Khaleda's 5-day China Tour Begins Dec 18
BNP move to strengthen relations with CPC
BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia will leave Dhaka on December 18 on a five-day visit to China to strengthen ties with the Communist Party of China (CPC).
The visit is being considered important as relationship with Chinese government became uneasy during BNP's previous term in power due to allowing visa office of Taiwan in Dhaka. A number of scheduled business deals were not signed at that time, sources said.
Moreover, pro-Chinese leaders within the main opposition party have been sidelined during the last three years, they added.
BNP Standing Committee member Lt Gen (retd) Mahbubur Rahman said it was a wrong policy of the then government as BNP always believes in one China policy.
“The problem is already solved and now BNP has a warm relation with China. The upcoming visit of the chairperson will make the ties stronger,” he said, adding China made a lot of contributions to the economic advancement of Bangladesh.
Maruf Kamal Khan, chairperson's press secretary, yesterday said they are still working with Chinese officials to finalise the programme schedule.
The former prime minister will also hold meetings with leaders of the Chinese government and the CPC from December 19 to 21, he added.
The opposition leader may visit deep sea port and high-speed train in China, sources said.
After attending receptions and sight seeing programmes, she will return home on December 23.
A high official of the Chinese embassy in Dhaka confirmed the visit.
Following its policy to strengthen bilateral relationship, the CPC invites leaders of the ruling and opposition parties to visit their country.
Both Sheikh Hasina and Khaleda Zia visited China as leader of the opposition.
Jubo Dal men stage demo
Dissident leaders and activists of Jatiyatabadi Jubo Dal, who were dropped from the central committee, yesterday staged demonstrations and submitted a memorandum to BNP chairperson urging her to reorganise the committee.
They staged the protest in front of the party's central office at Nayapaltan in the city and also formed a human chain.
Shafiqur Rahman, vice president of the previous committee, said they are with the organisation for the last 27 years.
“We have worked for the organisation even during the emergency, but we were not evaluated properly in the new committee,” he said.
More than 200 leaders of the organisation, including Abdul Awal, Ali Akbar, Tariqul Islam Boni, took part in the demonstration.
They chanted slogans against the new committee and alleged many opportunists were included while dedicated leaders left out of the committee.
Ruhul Kabir Rizvi, joint secretary general of BNP, received the memorandum on behalf of the chairperson.
Party Chairperson Khaleda Zia on October 11 approved a 211-member central committee of Jubo Dal, keeping Moazzem Hossain Alal and Saiful Islam Nirob as president and general secretary.
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