Khaleda, Hasina exchange pleasantries

In a rare gesture of goodwill, arch political rivals two former prime ministers Begum Khaleda Zia and Sheikh Hasina yesterday exchanged salam and pleasantries at the Armed Forces Day reception at the Sena Kunja at Dhaka Cantonment.
According to information Begum Khaleda and Sheikh Hasina(The New Nation)

also chiefs of the AL and BNP did not talk to each other in a brief face-to-face meeting after 18 years since 1990.

The two leaders had an opportunity to come close to each other during sessions of the last three parliaments and the annual armed forces day receptions but never directly talked to each other.

There were attempts in the past to convince them to talk to each other.

During the anti-Ershad movement, Begum Khaleda Zia met Sheikh Hasina on two occasions at her husband’s atomic energy commission staff quarters in Mohakhali and the Dhanmondi residence of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, which has now been turned into a museum.

When the two leaders exchanged greetings last evening at the reception, the guests warmly applauded.

The event took place before the arrival of President Iajuddin Ahmed, who hosted the reception as Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces.

The meeting of rival leaders is considered as a positive sign in the political arena when the two parties stick to its separate dates for holding the parliamentary polls.

Sheikh Hasina led 14-party has been demanding holding the parliamentary polls on December 18 according to the schedule while Begum Khaleda Zia led 4-party alliance called for a 10-day delay.

The 14-party alliance has already declared to contest the elections, while the 4-party alliance is yet to take a formal decision to take part.

Khaleda Zia and Sheikh Hasina were arrested last year and sent to special jails side by side in the Jatiya Sangsad premises on corruption charges and released after a year.

Sheikh Hasina was the first to reach the function at the Sena Kunja in the evening while Khaleda Zia followed her a few minutes later.

The Chief Adviser was flanked by Khaleda Zia at the right and Sheikh Hasina on the left.

The reception was attended, among others, by Chief Adviser Dr Fakhruddin Ahmed, Speaker Barrister Jamiruddin Sircar, Chief Justice MM Ruhul Amin, Chief Election Commissioner Dr ATM Shamsul Huda, former presidents HM Ershad, AQM Badruddoza Chowdhury and Abdur Rahman Biswas, incumbent and former advisers, judges, chiefs of diplomatic missions, politicians, incumbent and former chiefs of staffs, senior journalists and government officials.

In the reception function, Election Commission gave away a crest to the Armed Forces in recognition to the commendable contribution for preparing accurate voters list with photographs and National Identify Cards. On behalf of the Armed Forces Chief of Army Staff General Moeen U Ahmed received the crest from the President.

Earlier, President Iajuddin Ahmed laid down wreaths at the 'Shikha Anirban' (eternal flame) in Dhaka Cantonment in the morning to mark the Armed Forces Day.

The days' programme began with special prayers offered at all the cantonment, air and naval base mosques for the prosperity and advancement of the armed forces.

Army Chief General Moeen U Ahmed, Navy Chief Vice Admiral Sarwar Jahan Nizam and Air Force Chief Air Marshal SM Ziaur Rahman placed wreaths at the 'Shikha Anirban' in Dhaka Cantonment in the morning.

The three chiefs then met with President Iajuddin Ahmed. Earlier, the President hosted a reception in honour of the successors of the Birsreshthhos and gallantry award winners at the Armed Forces Division headquarters in the morning.

Besides, the three chiefs of staffs also hosted separate receptions to honour the army, navy and air force gallantry award winners, their families and freedom fighters.

Newspapers brought out special supplements and the Bangladesh Television and other private TV channels broadcast special programmes commemorating the Armed Forces Day.

On November 21 in 1971, the armed forces of Bangladesh was formally constituted comprising army, navy and air force.

The armed forces combining its strength with the people fighting had initiated the launch of all-out attack on this day in a bid to wipe out the occupation forces of Pakistan.