Khaleda goes to S Arabia

BNP chairperson Khaleda Zia left the city for Saudi Arabia Saturday night to perform Umrah at the invitation of the Saudi government, reports UNB.
The BNP chief flied from Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport in a flight of Emirates Airlines around 9pm.
Khaleda, also a former Prime Minister, will perform Umrah as a royal guest of the Saudi government as she does every year.
Apart from some family members of the BNP chief, her press secretary Maruf Kamal, personal assistant Shamsur Rahman Shimul Biswas, her Middle East affairs adviser Enamul Haque Chowdhury and photographer Nuruddin Ahmed will accompany Khaleda during her visit.
Khaleda goes to Saudi Arabia every Ramadan to perform Umrah and pass the last days of the holy month there in special prayers.
She is expected to return home on July 25.
 "The BNP chairperson will return home after observing the holy Lailatul Qadr in Saudai Arabia and will observe the holy night here, too," Maruf Kamal said.
Party sources said BNP senior Vice Chairman Tarique Rahman along with his family members, now in London, is also likely to go to Saudi Arabia to perform Umrah during the period, apparently to meet his mother after a long time.