Tarique Rahman’s speech at the BNP’s Iftar event in London on Tuesday was drowned repeatedly in the chaos created by the party’s expatriate leaders and activists.
The scarcity of chairs and the disorder that followed was one of the issues that plagued the programme at Essex City Pavilion attended by leaders who travelled to the venue.
Tarique, the eldest son to BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia, urged all to calm down for his speech before Iftar.
The BNP’s senior vice-chairman greeted them for Ramadan but the pandemonium continued. Utterly displeased, Tarique then said: “Hey, you guys on the right! Either you hold this mike or let me speak because I’m the one holding it!”
A man soon approached Tarique and advised him to take the microphone in his hand.
He took it up annoyingly and began speaking about his thoughts and plans to the rowdy crowd.
Tarique, reading a written speech, stopped several times to urge nearby leaders to stop the restless crowd from making more noise.
He threw questions at them to grab their attentions and the crowd answered with either ‘yes’ or ‘no’.
One of such questions was answered with ‘no’, and Tarique asked the crowd, “Why do you say no?”
His audience, however, did not answer. “Everyone is busy taking photos with intelligent phones,” Tarique rebuked.
He then began to discuss agriculture, industry and electricity. “The country isn’t someone’s father’s property, it belongs to all of us. So everyone must contribute to its development.”
People spoke among themselves even ten minutes into his speech and Tarique bursted out saying: “Make them shut up or ask them to leave if they just want to talk and not listen!”
He had quoted a Hadith from Bukhari Sharif to say: “Let none of you scream and speak slander during Siyam (fasting). If anyone curses or argues with you, just say ‘I am performing Siyam’.”
Agriculture topped the list of Tarique’s priorities in his speech.
“As a political worker with more than two decades of direct and indirect experience, I have formed my own plan and vision of a rich, developed Bangladesh,” he continued.
“It will be known for its self-sufficiency, successful industries and agile economy. It will be rich with manpower, socially united and keeper of great values.”
Source: Bd news24
