Sajeda terms H Mahmud an absolute boor

UNB, Dhaka :
Awami League acting President Syeda Sajeda Chowdhury on Sunday called party publicity affairs secretary Dr Hasan Mahmud an absolute boor as he held a counter-programme to her one on the occasion of party president Sheikh Hasina’s birthday.
“Who is he (Mahmud)? What was he? Where had he been during the Liberation War? I know how he has become a leader. I didn’t see such type of bragging in my political career. It’s an absolute audacity,” she said.
Sajeda, also the deputy leader of parliament, was
addressing a programme in front of Bangabandhu’s Dhanmondi 32 house arranged by Swechchhasebak League marking Hasina’s birthday.
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, now in the USA, turned 68 on Sunday. Sajeda, the senior most AL presidium member, has been performing duties as acting president of the party in absence of its chief Sheikh Hasina.
To mark her birthday, Motor Sramik League also arranged a programme near the Swechchhasebak League’s one where Mahmud joined as the chief guest.
As Sajeda stood up for addressing the Swechchhasebak League’s rally, Mahmud also started delivering his speech at another rally, causing embarrassment to Sajeda.
Outraged, Sajeda said, “They’re speaking so loudly just opposite to us. I didn’t expect such a counter-programme. I never saw such a programme here in the past. Awami League never ever held Jamaat-style counter-programmes.”
She hoped there will be no such counter-programme in front of the Bangabandhu’s House the future.
The acting AL chief urged the party men to remain aware so that no one can do bad politics in the name of Bangabandhu. “I want to tell Hasan Mahmud, we won’t tolerate such imprudence. I would like to ask him to remain quiet until my speech is complete,” she said.
Describing Mahmud as a new comer to politics, Sajeda also advised him to follow a go-slow policy and observe everything. “Now new leaders are emerging and indulging in ill breeding.”
At one stage, Mahmud stopped his address as some leaders from Swechchhasebak League’s rally hurriedly moved to Mahmud and informed him Sajeda’s resentment.
Mahmud concluded his remaining speech after Sajeda ended hers.
Contracted, Mahmud said he was not aware that Sajeda would address the rally. “I stopped forthwith when I was informed about it.”