BNP hosted an Iftar party at a hotel in the capital on Thursday in honour of foreign diplomats stationed in Bangladesh.

Ambassadors, high commissioners, mission chiefs, chargé d' affaires, and other envoys from various countries and representatives of international bodies attended the event.

Before the Iftar, BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir exchanged pleasantries with the guests.

In a brief address, he said the BNP is committed to upholding democracy, accountability, the rule of law, good governance, justice, and humanity. "We want to ensure that the political future of Bangladesh will be determined solely by its people.”

Fakhrul expressed the hope that Bangladesh's global friends and partners would respect the international norms of 'non-interference,' 'sovereignty,' and the 'peaceful resolution of disputes' for the collective development of the nation.

"We look forward to working closely with our partners to ensure the shared progress of our region through democracy and liberal trade partnerships. We also aim to increase people-to-people contacts in the future," he said.

The BNP leader said the Iftar programme served as a reminder of the values of justice, resilience and unity. "The people of Bangladesh deserve a future free from fear, oppression, and political uncertainty. The path ahead is clear for a swift return to democracy through a free and fair election.”

Later, he took Iftar with British High Commissioner to Bangladesh Sarah Cooke, retired US diplomat Jon Danilowicz, Pakistan High Commissioner to Bangladesh Syed Ahmed Maroof, and Turkish Ambassador to Bangladesh Ramis Sen.

Foreign diplomats from various countries, including the US, UK, Germany, China, India, the EU, Russia, Japan, Canada, the UAE, Norway, Sweden, Spain, France, Italy, South Korea, and Nepal, as well as representatives from international organisations, including various UN agencies, also attended the event.

Senior BNP leaders, civil society members, senior journalists and educationists also participated in the programme.

A munajat was offered before Iftar, seeking divine blessings for the peace and progress of the country and the welfare of its people.