Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia avoided each other at a reception on the occasion of the Armed Forces Day at Senakunja at Dhaka cantonment Wednesday.
It was anticipated that both the leaders would exchange greetings like they did in previous years. But now they skipped a conversation frustrating the attendants.
Hasina, clad in a green colour sari, arrived at Senakunja around 4:05pm. After a while, Khaleda wearing a pink chiffon turned up.
After the scheduled speech of prime minister they exchanged greetings with the invited guests keeping distance.
They even did not sit in their reserved seats which were placed side by side.
Khaleda left Senakunja around 4:40pm.
Khaleda skipped the reception in 2010 and 2011. This was her second appearance at the programme during the tenure of the Awami League-led alliance government.
Hasina and Khaleda were last seen together at the Armed Forces Day ceremony on November 21, 2009.
The two top leaders also attended an iftar party of Armed Forces Day that year where they had shared a table and exchanged pleasantries.
The Armed Forces Division organises receptions each year for the family members of the Bir Shresthas (highest award winners for gallantry) as well as selected freedom fighters with other gallantry awards and their family members.
Source: The Daily Star
