They have been inviting each other to iftar every year for the last two decades. The news of the invitations is circulated in media with gusto. However, none of them ever attended the programme.
They are Prime Minister and Awami League President Sheikh Hasina and her archrival BNP Chairperson and former premier Khaleda Zia.
This Ramadan too neither of them forgot the courtesy to send iftar invitation to each other. But with Hasina having already skipped Khaleda's July 2 iftar, chances are thin to see the two most powerful ladies of the country sit across the table this time as well.
Nevertheless, the PM yesterday invited Khaleda to an Iftar on July 17 at the Gono Bhaban knowing that Khaleda is most likely to skip the programme.
Most political observers see this iftar invitation as a mere social ritual which sees no thaw in relation.
The history of this ritual dates back to 1991 when the then premier Khaleda Zia sent an official invitation to then opposition chief Hasina. And Hasina immediately reciprocated as she did not want Khaleda to gain a political advantage.
Initially, people were enthusiastic at the prospect of seeing the two leaders sitting together, a rare sight for the nation, on the pretext of iftar. But their hopes evaporated soon.
Interestingly, though the leaders skip each other's invitations, they have attended iftar and few other programmes of Bangladesh Armed Forces. However, Khaleda have been skipping such programmes too since 2010 when she was evicted from her cantonment residence.
The last time the nation saw Hasina and Khaleda sharing pleasantries was during an iftar party in Dhaka Cantonment on September 10, 2009.