Dhaka: In the absence of party chairperson Khaleda Zia, BNP hosted an iftar party on her behalf for orphan students and alem-ulema (Islamic scholars) on Tuesday, the first day of the fasting month of Ramadan.

The programme was held at the city’s Ladies Club with the participation of nearly 200 orphans and some alem-ulema, reports the UNB.

BNP secretary general Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir and party standing committee members received the guests and exchanged pleasantries with them.

Khaleda used to take iftar with orphans and alem-ulema on the first day of Ramadan every year.

Khaleda was sent to jail on February 8, 2018 as she was convicted in a graft case. The BNP chief was shifted to Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University on April 1 last due to her illness.   

Prior to the iftar, a munajat was offered seeking divine blessings for Khaleda’s early recovery and her release from jail.

Apart from Fakhrul, BNP standing committee members Khandaker Mosharraf Hossain, Jamiruddin Sircar, Mirza Abbas, Gayeshwar Chandra Roy, Dr Abdul Moyeen Khan, Nazrul Islam Khan and Amir Khosru Mahmud Chowdhury joined the iftar party.