Dhaka, Feb. 27 -- The Bangladesh Nationalist Party, or BNP, has launched its first extended meeting in seven years with recitations from the Quran and a performance of the national anthem.

The opening ceremony of the day-long meeting began at 10:30am on the open field adjacent to the LD Hall of the parliament complex.

The meeting is being presided over virtually from London by the party's Acting Chairman Tarique Rahman.

Some 3,500 party leaders from various levels - from grassroots to the party centre - from all over the country are taking part. These include members of the National Standing Committee, the Chairperson's Advisory Council, and the National Executive Committee. Also in attendance are the presidents, general secretaries, c...