DHAKA: Awami League General Secretary Obaidul Quader has categorically refused to take a symbolic boat made by 128 bhori of Silver as a gift from Tangail lawmaker Abdul Malek during a program.

The incident took place as Quader, also the Road Transport and Bridges Minister, was attending the program after inaugurating a bridge on Bangshi River in Tangail’s Mirzapur on Wednesday (February 14).

Local MP Abdul Malek made the silver boat with an aim to present it to Quader but the minister not only refused to take it but also rebuffed Malek for the gift.

“No, no, I won’t take it. You know I don’t take such gifts, so why do you bother me?” Quader said at first but when MP Malek tried to insist, he suddenly became quiet and firmly denied the gift. 

The incident was awkward and uncomfortable as they were sitting on a stage in front of hundreds of people. However, Quader did not turned down Malek completely because at the end he took a symbolic boat made of flowers from him. 

BDST: 1510 HRS, FEB 14, 2018
AP