Begum Khaleda Zia, chairperson of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) and former prime minister, stepped into her 81st year today, with party units and supporters across the country marking the day with prayers and charitable activities.

To observe the anniversary, special doa and milad mahfils were held at BNP offices and mosques nationwide. The central office organised a milad and a dua mahfil before Jummah prayers, where party leaders, activists and well-wishers offered prayers for her health and long life.

In Feni, a special meal (tabarak) was distributed at Majumdar Bari in Fulgazi, her ancestral home, in a function arranged by her younger brother Zahid Hossain Majumder. In Sripur upazila of Gazipur, BNP leaders held a dua mahfil and distributed clothes among destitute families as part of the observance.

Gopalganj district BNP and affiliated organisations organised a milad at the party office, while the Khulna metropolitan unit held special prayers at the KD Ghosh party office at 11:00am. Similar programmes took place in Kurigram, Mymensingh, Rangamati, Joypurhat, Sonargaon, Bogura, Faridpur and several other districts and upazilas.

BNP’s student wing, Jatiyatabadi Chhatra Dal (JCD), marked the day with prayers for Khaleda Zia’s wellbeing at the central mosque of Dhaka University.

MN/