BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia has opened a Twitter account to be finally on the social media. Her account – Begum Khaleda Zia@BegumZiaBD – was officially inaugurated at a programme to mark the party’s 38th founding anniversary on Thursday.

In the first tweets, Khaleda wrote in English and Bangla: “Founding Day Call – Let us unite to defeat authoritarianism, win democracy and freedom.”

Political leaders in other countries take to the microblogging site, but in Bangladesh they are yet to tap it.

In the programme held at the Institution of Engineers, Bangladesh in Ramna, Khaleda also inaugurated the BNP’s website (www.bnpbangladesh.com), Facebook page  (www.facebook.com/bnp.communication), Twitter account (BNP Communication@bnpbangladesh) and a blog  (www.bangladeshivoices.blogspot.com).

The BNP website contains news and photos of the party’s activities.

Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir, Standing Committee members Khandker Mosharraf Hossain, Jamir Uddin Sirkar, ASM Hannan Shah, Mirza Abbas, Amir Khasru Mahmud Chowdhury, among others, were present in the programme.

Earlier in the morning, Khaleda laid wreath at her husband BNP founder Ziaur Rahman’s grave.