BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia today got reunited with all her family members at a London hotel after seven years, creating an emotional atmosphere.
On her arrival at Heathrow Airport around 12:50pm (Bangladesh time), her elder son Tarique Rahman received the former prime minister and drove her to the hotel.
Several hundred BNP leaders and activists of the UK chapter welcomed Khaleda at the airport, a London-based Bangladeshi journalist told The Daily Star.
Meanwhile, holding banners, festoons and placards on the destructive activities carried out during the BNP-led 20-party alliance’s recent blockade and hartals, some ruling Awami League men staged demonstrations at the airport.
Tears rolled down her cheeks as soon as Khaleda Zia saw her son after disembarking from the Emirates Airways flight. She hugged Tarique and kissed him on his forehead at the airport’s terminal No. 3 and they spent some time at the VIP lounge. Tarique greeted his mother with a garland.
From the airport, Tarique drove her mother, who was seated beside him, to the nearby Sofitel Hotel amid cheers by party leaders and activists. In response, Khaleda waved her hands.
BNP’s UK chapter leaders including its President MA Malek and General Secretary Kaiser M Ahmed greeted Khaleda at the hotel and had a brief discussion with her.
The ruling Awami League men also staged demonstrations in front of the hotel.
The BNP chief left for London last night for eye treatment and celebrating the upcoming Eid-ul-Azha with her family members.
Her advisers Abdul Awal Mintoo and Amir Khasru Mahmud Chowdhury, personal assistant Abdus Sattar and Mintoo’ son Tabith Awal accompanied Khaleda.
This is the first time that Khaleda is going to celebrate Eid outside the country with her elder son Tarique, his wife Zubaida Khan Rahman, their daughters, and Khaleda’s younger son Arafat Rahman Koko’s wife and her daughters.
Koko’s family members have already reached London from Malaysia where they had been living since late 2008. Koko died suffering a heart attack on January 24.
Khaleda is likely to stay in London for around two weeks.
According to party insiders, the visit of the BNP chairperson would be a significant one, as she would discuss crucial political issues with Tarique, also senior vice chairman of the party, who has been staying in London since 2008.
