BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia was given a warm welcome yesterday by party activists and supporters upon her return from a 10-day visit to Saudi Arabia.

Hundreds of leaders, workers and supporters of the main opposition and its associate bodies were standing on both sides of the road from Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport to Banani in the capital. That caused huge traffic congestion in the area which lasted for about an hour.

The traffic movement became normal around 4:00 pm.

On behalf of the party, Dhaka City Corporation Mayor Sadeque Hossain Khoka, also a BNP vice-chairman, welcomed the party leader at the airport.

Senior leaders including standing committee members, party lawmakers, vice presidents, members of chairperson's advisory council, joint secretaries general were present there.

From the airport, Khaleda Zia went to her younger brother's residence at Gulshan where she has been staying since November last year.

Talking to reporters at the airport, Moudud Ahmed, a standing committee member, said the chairperson will soon sit with the committee to finalise the antigovernment programmes the party is going to take.

They may call hartal as the government failed to run the country, he added.

During her visit as a royal guest, Khaleda performed Umrah and met Prince Turkey Al Faisal, chairman of King Faisal Institute, besides taking treatment at King Faisal Bin Abdul Aziz Hospital. She also visited Princess Noora Bint Abdur-Rahman University.

Meanwhile, in a statement last night Khaleda said she felt sorry for people's suffering due to traffic jam.