DHAKA, Dec 15, 2024 (BSS) - Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) Chairperson and former Prime Minister Begum Khaleda Zia in person will join a political program for the first time after six years.

She will address a rally organized by Jatiotabadi Muktijoddha Dal (JMD), marking the Victory Day as the chief guest at Bangladesh-China Friendship Conference Centre on December 21.

JMD President Syed Ishtiaq Aziz Ulfat told BSS that BNP Chairperson Begum Zia would join the rally on December 21. "We are organizing the rally marking the Victory Day," he said.

Ulfat said he, along with BNP standing committee member Major (retd) Hafiz Uddin Ahmed, met party Chairperson Begum Khaleda Zia last night and invited her to join the rally.

He said that former Prime Minister Begum Khaleda Zia has accepted their invitation. "She said if she is in good health, she will come to this gathering of freedom fighters. We are expecting that madam will join the gathering," he said.

Begum Khaleda last attended a political programme on February 4, 2018, presiding over an extended meeting of BNP at the Le M,ridien Hotel. Three days later, she was convicted in a corruption case brought by the Anti-Corruption Commission and subsequently sentenced to prison.

On the occasion of Armed Forces Day on November 21, the former prime minister attended the reception at Senakunja at the invitation of the Armed Forces Division. This was Khaleda's first public appearance at any event after six years.

President Mohammed Shahabuddin commuted Khaleda's sentence after the fall of Sheikh Hasina's government on August 5. Although Khaleda was freed, she did not join any public events immediately afterwards.
 
However, JMD General Secretary Sadeq Ahmed Khan said BNP Acting Chairman Tarique Rahman will join the rally virtually from London.