BNP to observe Khaleda Zia’s 81st birthday with special prayers on Friday
- Update Time : Wednesday, 13 August, 2025, 06:37 pm
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Online Desk : Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) will mark the 81st birthday of its chairperson and former Prime Minister Khaleda Zia on Friday, August 15, in a modest manner, focusing solely on special prayers across the country. At a press conference held at the BNP chairperson’s Gulshan office, Senior Joint Secretary General Ruhul Kabir Rizvi announced that doa and milad mahfils will take place at BNP offices nationwide, including the central office in Dhaka. Prayers will also be offered in mosques after Juma prayers, seeking Khaleda Zia’s recovery, good health, and long life. Additional prayers will be offered for those who lost their lives during the 1971 Liberation War, the 1990 democratic movement, and the 2024 mass uprising.
Rizvi urged leaders and activists of the party and its affiliated bodies to participate in the programmes spontaneously. Emphasising the simplicity of this year’s observance, he confirmed that no cake-cutting or celebratory events would be held. “We will only pray for our leader’s good health and recovery,” he said. A central milad mahfil is scheduled for 11am at the BNP’s Nayapaltan headquarters.
Describing Khaleda Zia as a symbol of resilience and democratic spirit, Rizvi said, “Despite years of political persecution, she remains a source of inspiration for democracy-loving people in Bangladesh. Her uncompromising leadership has guided the nation in the struggle to restore democracy.” Since 2016, the BNP has refrained from cake-cutting ceremonies on her birthday, choosing instead to observe the day with religious prayers. Khaleda Zia, born on August 15, 1945, in Dinajpur, served as Bangladesh’s first female Prime Minister and held office for three terms, first elected in 1991.
