Leader of the Opposition Khaleda Zia will tour India for a week at the end of this month at the Indian government's invitation.
This is the first time the BNP chairperson will visit India as leader of the opposition. She earlier toured the neighbouring country as prime minister.
Sources at the Indian High Commission in Dhaka said Khaleda Zia would leave for India on October 28.
Khaleda's Press Secretary Maruf Kamal Khan Sohel said the tentative date for her departure was October 28 and everything regarding the tour would be finalised soon.
BNP Vice Chairman Shamsher Mobin Chowdhury told The Daily Star, "Discussions are still on with the Indian side about the chairperson's visit. The date will be finalised soon."
BNP standing committee member Nazrul Islam Khan, on return from India yesterday, said he had met the Indian prime minister and the security adviser, and the two were looking forward to the BNP chairperson's India visit.
BNP leaders have always labelled the ruling Awami League as "pro-Indian." The party chairperson has also accused the present government of serving India's interests.
The party strongly opposed the government move to provide India with transit facilities. It also strongly criticised India over the killings of Bangladeshi nationals by the BSF on the border and the Tipaimukh dam issue.
The BNP chairperson is expected to leave for China on October 14 on a weeklong visit before going to India.
Analysts said it was a positive move from both the Indian side and the BNP, as the two sides realised the importance of deepening bilateral ties further.
They said the visit was very significant ahead of the general election in Bangladesh.
Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh invited Khaleda to visit India during his Dhaka tour in September last year. Later, the then Indian Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee and the external affairs minister met Khaleda and communicated the Indian government's invitation.
The Indian leaders told Khaleda that India wanted to build good relations with all political actors in Bangladesh, not with any specific party.
We want to reach out to all the people and all the political parties in Bangladesh, said the Indian prime minister during his Dhaka visit.
Sources at the Indian High Commission say Khaleda would leave Dhaka for New Delhi on October 28 and hold a series of meetings with top Indian leaders, deliver a lecture on India-Bangladesh relations and visit Ajmer Sharif. She will return to Dhaka on November 3.
Nearly half a dozen top BNP leaders would accompany Khaleda, they said.
The BNP chairperson will call on Indian President Pranab Mukherjee and Prime Minister Manmohan Singh. She will also hold discussions with Sonia Gandhi, the president of Indian Congress Party and chairperson of the UPA, and other opposition leaders in India, sources said.
Khaleda visits India late this month
This is the first time the BNP chairperson will visit India as leader of the opposition. She earlier toured the neighbouring country as prime minister.
Sources at the Indian High Commission in Dhaka said Khaleda Zia would leave for India on October 28.
Khaleda's Press Secretary Maruf Kamal Khan Sohel said the tentative date for her departure was October 28 and everything regarding the tour would be finalised soon.
BNP Vice Chairman Shamsher Mobin Chowdhury told The Daily Star, "Discussions are still on with the Indian side about the chairperson's visit. The date will be finalised soon."
BNP standing committee member Nazrul Islam Khan, on return from India yesterday, said he had met the Indian prime minister and the security adviser, and the two were looking forward to the BNP chairperson's India visit.
BNP leaders have always labelled the ruling Awami League as "pro-Indian." The party chairperson has also accused the present government of serving India's interests.
The party strongly opposed the government move to provide India with transit facilities. It also strongly criticised India over the killings of Bangladeshi nationals by the BSF on the border and the Tipaimukh dam issue.
The BNP chairperson is expected to leave for China on October 14 on a weeklong visit before going to India.
Analysts said it was a positive move from both the Indian side and the BNP, as the two sides realised the importance of deepening bilateral ties further.
They said the visit was very significant ahead of the general election in Bangladesh.
Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh invited Khaleda to visit India during his Dhaka tour in September last year. Later, the then Indian Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee and the external affairs minister met Khaleda and communicated the Indian government's invitation.
The Indian leaders told Khaleda that India wanted to build good relations with all political actors in Bangladesh, not with any specific party.
We want to reach out to all the people and all the political parties in Bangladesh, said the Indian prime minister during his Dhaka visit.
Sources at the Indian High Commission say Khaleda would leave Dhaka for New Delhi on October 28 and hold a series of meetings with top Indian leaders, deliver a lecture on India-Bangladesh relations and visit Ajmer Sharif. She will return to Dhaka on November 3.
Nearly half a dozen top BNP leaders would accompany Khaleda, they said.
The BNP chairperson will call on Indian President Pranab Mukherjee and Prime Minister Manmohan Singh. She will also hold discussions with Sonia Gandhi, the president of Indian Congress Party and chairperson of the UPA, and other opposition leaders in India, sources said.
Khaleda visits India late this month
