Chief Adviser Prof Dr Muhammad Yunus expressed his pride and satisfaction as BNP Chairperson Begum Khaleda Zia attended the Armed Forces Day reception at Senakunja on Thursday.
Addressing the event, the chief adviser said: "We are proud to have brought Khaleda Zia here.”
After 12 long years, BNP Chairperson and former prime minister Khaleda Zia participated in the Armed Forces Day ceremony at Senakunja in Dhaka Cantonment.
This is her first public appearance for the first time after six years. She last visited Sylhet on February 5, 2018. She last attended the Armed Forces Day event in 2012.
Yunus said: “Khaleda Zia, the wife of martyred President Ziaur Rahman, has come here. She did not get a chance to attend the event for almost a decade. We are proud to offer this opportunity to her.”
Addressing Khaleda Zia, he said: “Thank you again for being a part of this special day despite a long illness. We are wishing you a speedy recovery.”
Earlier, Chief Adviser Dr Muhammad Yunus paid tribute to martyrs from the armed forces who had made the supreme sacrifice during the War of Liberation in 1971, on the occasion of Armed Forces Day.
The chief adviser paid the homage by placing a wreath at Shikha Anirban in Dhaka Cantonment at 8:30am and stood in solemn silence for a while as a mark of profound respect to the memories of the martyrs.
A smartly turned-out contingent of the army, navy and air force presented a salute while a sad tune was played on the bugle.
The chief adviser also signed the visitors' book.
On his arrival at Shikha Anirban, Yunus was welcomed by the chiefs of the three services and senior officers of the Armed Forces Division.
On this day during the War of Liberation in 1971, the Bangladesh Armed Forces, comprising the army, navy and air force, came into being and launched an all-out attack on the Pakistani occupation forces.
Since liberation, this historic day has been observed as Armed Forces Day every year in a befitting manner.
Addressing the event, Muhammad Yunus has said the armed forces have been recognised as a symbol of confidence by standing beside the people of the country.
“In the recent anti-discrimination movement and post movement, the armed forces stood beside the people. By standing by the students and general people, the armed forces have been recognised again as a symbol of confidence to the people of the country,” he said.
The chief adviser was speaking at the reception at Senakunja.
Recalling the contribution of the armed forces, Prof Yunus said since the independence of the country, the armed forces has been working, standing by the people, in nation building and tackling disasters alongside protecting the country’s independence and sovereignty.
He said on this day in 1971, the members of the armed forces and common citizens of Bangladesh jointly launched a coordinated attack against the Pakistani occupation forces.
So, he said, 21 November is being observed as a milestone of the liberation war.
Meanwhile, former prime minister Khaleda Zia came out of her Gulshan residence at 3:30pm and started for the venue.
At Thursday’s event, Khaleda Zia sat in a seat reserved for the guests in the reception. Chief Adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus sat next to her.
After exchanging greetings with the guests, the chief adviser took his seat and exchanged greetings with Khaleda Zia.
According to eyewitnesses, Khaleda Zia was greeted by Chief of Army Staff General Waker-Uz-Zaman, Chief of the Naval Staff Admiral M Nazmul Hassan and Air Force Chief Air Vice Marshal Hasan Mahmood Khan, upon her arrival at the venue.
Meanwhile, Khaleda Zia's vehicle was followed by the vehicle of Sharmila Rahman Sithi, the wife of her younger son, late Arafat Rahman Koko.
BNP Standing Committee Member Selima Rahman, BNP Vice Chairman AZM Zahid Hossain, Student Affairs Secretary Rakibul Islam Bakul, BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia's Special Assistant Shamsur Rahman Shimul Biswas and Private Secretary Abdus Sattar were in the other cars.
Shairul Kabir Khan, a member of the BNP's media cell was also present at the reception. Leaders of various parties, including the founder of Ganoforum, former law and foreign minister and eminent lawyer Dr Kamal Hossain, BNP leaders Gayeshwar Chandra Roy, Khandaker Mosharraf Hossain, Mirza Abbas and Abdul Moyeen Khan, were also present at the reception of Senakunja.
BNP Secretary General Fakhrul Islam Alamgir, who was in tears seeing the party chief at the event, claimed that Khaleda Zia had been kept away from the armed forces for 12 years in a planned way.
Mirza Fakhrul said: “Khaleda Zia has sacrificed a big portion of her life to protect democracy, freedom and sovereignty of the country. She (Khaleda Zia) was systematically kept away from the patriotic Armed Forces for 12 years.”
