Khaleda Zia to attend 'Muktijoddha Rally' on Victory Day

BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia is set to attend a rally organized by the Muktijoddha Dal at the China Friendship Conference Center in Dhaka on December 21, as the chief guest, to mark the Great Victory Day.

This will be her first public rally appearance in six years.

According to the sources within BNP, on December 14, party standing committee member Major (retd) Hafiz Uddin Ahmed and Muktijoddha Dal President Ishtiaq Aziz Ulfat met Khaleda Zia at her Gulshan residence, where they invited her to be the chief guest at the rally.

Khaleda Zia agreed to attend, if her health condition permits, as confirmed by BNP media cell member Shairul Kabir Khan.

Some party members believed that Khaleda Zia's participation marks her return to active politics.

A former BNP student leader stated that her return would strengthen the party, already revitalized by acting chairman Tarique Rahman’s efforts.

Khaleda Zia, who was imprisoned in 2018 on corruption charges, was conditionally released in 2020 amid the COVID-19 pandemic. Under the terms of her release, she was prohibited from engaging in politics or traveling abroad. Since her release, she has lived under house arrest and been hospitalized multiple times due to health issues.

Her last public appearance was on November 21 for Armed Forces Day, following the fall of the Awami League government on August 5.