Following their emotional reunion in Dubai after over three years, BNP chairperson Khaleda and her eldest son and party senior vice chairman Tarique Rahman reached Madina, Saudi Arabia on Sunday morning to perform Umrah as Royal guests, reports UNB. A regular flight of Emirates Airlines taking Khaleda and her entourage, Tarique and his family, landed at the Prince Mohammad Bin Abdulaziz Internati
onal Airport around 3:30 am (Saudi time), her press secretary Maruf Kamal Khan told UNB from Madina. A number of leaders and activists of the party’s Saudi and Madina chapters welcomed Khaleda and Tarique at the airport. Later, they drove straight to a five star hotel where they will be staying during their Madina tour. Earlier, Khaleda and her entourage left Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport, Dhaka around 9:35pm on Saturday. She met Tarique at the VIP Lounge of the Dubai International Airport during her stopover there. Khaleda’s entourage and local BNP leaders who witnessed the reunion said the mother and the son turned emotional upon seeing each other after over three years. Later, Tarique along with his wife, Dr Zobaida Rahman, and daughter, Zaima Rahman, joined Khaleda in her tour of Saudi Arabia. This was their second reunion since September 2008. Earlier, Khaleda met Tarique on May 15, 2011 during her visit to London. Tarique was arrested on March 7, 2007 on various graft charges by the Fakhruddin-Moeenuddin-led military-backed caretaker government. He along with his family went to London on September 11, 2008, at the fag end of the caretaker regime, in 2008 after his release on bail on September 3 the same year for treatment as the law enforcers reportedly tortured him in custody causing serious injuries to his spinal cord. He has been living in London since then and receiving treatment there. During their stay in Saudi Arabia, Tarique and Khaleda will discuss various crucial issues like party’s overhaul process, strategy for the post-Eid movement and party’s council, according to party sources. “The BNP chairperson and the senior vice chairman will stay in Madina for two days and offer fateha at the Rawza (grave) Mobarak of the Prophet Hazrat Mohammad (Pbuh) and say prayers at Masjid-e-Nababi,” said Maruf Kamal. They will go to Jeddah from Madina on Tuesday. Later, they will go to Makkah by road and perform Umrah there. They will also pass the holy night of the Lailatul Qadr at the Masjid-ul-Haram, he added. Khaleda goes to Saudi Arabia every Ramadan to perform Umrah and pass the last days of the holy month there in special prayers. The BNP chief is expected to return home on July 26. Maruf Kamal, BNP chief’s personal assistant Shamsur Rahman Shimul Biswas, her Middle East affairs adviser Enamul Haque Chowdhury, party ICT affairs secretary Shah Sharif Kamal Taj and photographer Nuruddin Ahmed are also accompanying Khaleda.
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