That was Annisul Huq, contestant of the coveted mayoral post of capital Dhaka’s North City Corporation.
“I am a new fakir on the street,” Huq, never tired of having a laugh at his own expense, told Bangladesh Bank governor Atiur Rahman.
Huq was a special guest on Sunday at the inauguration of e-Commerce Alliance organised by the Bangladesh Association of Software and Information Services (BASIS).
There was a chair reserved for the former FBCCI president on stage and his nameplate rested on the table at the function held at the Bangabandhu International Conference Centre.
The nameplate, however, was promptly removed when Huq, a mayoral candidate endorsed by the ruling Awami League, declined to sit on stage, mindful of the poll code of conduct.
He sat in the second row among the audience, though he did get on to the stage once to deliver his speech.
Many in the gathering inquired about the upcoming poll.
He discussed the election with them and even posed for photographs.
He walked up to Governor Rahman when he arrived and shook hands with him.
“Oh, you are here? How are you? You never know, someone might see politics in it!” the central bank chief said, expressing surprise.
“Yes, of course,, they might think its politics,” said Huq.
“I had a seat on the stage. But I did not accept it out of fear.
“The fact that I am being photographed could also be differently construed.
“That is why I was careful not to sit in the first row, but chose the second one,” he said when his chance came to speak.
“I will not be able to speak at length on e-commerce. I am a dreamer. So, I will be more at ease talking about dreams,” said Huq, who is primarily a ready-made garment businessman.
“Bangladesh would soon become known the world over for its e-commerce just as it is known today for its garment industry, disaster management, and for forging ahead,” he added.
As he was about to come down from the stage after giving the speech, he looked at FBCCI president Kazi Akram Uddin Ahmed and said: “Sir, we are passed the dreaming age. It is now their turn.”
“We are dreaming for you,” came Ahmed’s quick repartee.
“I am unable respond to this,” said Huq, pointing to the presence of a bevy of reporters.
He left soon after giving his speech, even though the programme was still on.
