Dhaka, Bangladesh (BBN)- BNP Chairperson and opposition leader Khaleda Zia left in Dhaka for Saudi Arabia on Friday morning to perform Umrah in Makkah at the invitation of the Saudi King.

A regular flight of Emirates Airlines carrying Khaleda, also former Prime Minister and her entourage took off Zia International Airport in the capital, Dhaka at about 11:32am (local time).

Family members of Khaleda Zia accompanying her on the holy trip included wife and two daughters of her younger son Arafat Rahman Koko and her brother Shamim Eskander and his wife.

Besides, BNP chairperson’s foreign relations committee member Shamsher Mobin Chowdhury, press-wing-chief Maruf Kamal Khan and Special Assistants-Shamsur Rahman Shimul Biswas and Mahbub Al Amin Dew were in the entourage of Khaleda Zia.

Senior BNP leaders including Khandaker Delwar Hossain, Dr Khandaker Mosharraf Hossain, former speaker Jamiruddin Sircar and opposition chief whip Zainul Abdin Farroque and BNP MPs saw her off at VIP lounge of the airport.

Khaleda is scheduled to stay Madina two days. She is also scheduled to offer fathea at the grave of prophet Hazrat Mohammad (SM) and prayers at Masjid-e-Nabawi there. Later she will go to Makkah to perform umrah.

The BNP chief is scheduled to return home on September 18.

BBN/SS/SI/AD-11September09-11:08 pm (BST)