Khaleda's London visit deferred

BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia's expected visit to London has been deferred possibly for one week, party sources said yesterday.

"Madam was expected to travel to the UK before August 15 but the visit was deferred as a domestic help of her house is yet to get the visa," an official at the BNP chief's Gulshan office told The Daily Star last night.

The new travel date will be either August 19 or 23, the official said.

Meanwhile, Khaleda Zia did not cut a cake in the wee hours today at her Gulshan office to celebrate her 71st "birthday".

"She usually does not come to her Gulshan office Friday. That's why there was no arrangement from the party's leaders and activists to cut a cake last night," said an official of the Gulshan office. Party insiders said she did not come to the office and cut her birthday cake in 2009 as well because the August 14 that year was also a Friday.

Sources said the BNP chief was likely to cut her birthday cake tonight at the office.

Her birthday will be celebrated also at the Nayapaltan central office today, the sources said.

Different quarters including the Awami League urge Khaleda not to celebrate her birthday on August 15 as it is the day of the assassination of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman.

Meanwhile, addressing a press briefing on August 10, BNP spokesperson Asaduzzaman Ripon said the party chief might leave in a day or two for London for "treatment".

Her elder son Tarique Rahman and his family have been staying there since 2008.

Wishing anonymity, a family member of Khaleda last night alleged that a "conspiracy" was under way so that Khaleda could not meet Tarique, also BNP's senior vice-chairman.

"She has taken initiatives to bring some major reforms in the party. A discussion with Tarique on the issue is very important," added the family member.

Several AL leaders have alleged that Khaleda is going to London for "hatching a new conspiracy against the government".