Abul Hossain ran first to get ministry !
A ruling party MP has made a startling claim that the communications minister won his office by winning a race set no-one else but by prime minister Hasina.
The Awami League deputy, Golam Maola Rony, said at a talk show on a private TV channel on Monday, "This is a gift from the prime minister. We know, because we are so close to him."
When asked about the truthfulness of his story, he told bdnews24.com on Wednesday: "Why would I lie on a TV talk show?"
Patuakhali MP Rony's statements, shown on Tritiya Matra, a talk show on Channel i, stirred a storm on the social media website Facebook and blogs. The video has been shared countless times on Facebook.
At one stage of the show, Rony described to his host and co-discussant how Abul Hossain had become the communications minister.
"When she was the opposition leader, she went to China once, around 2004/05/06.
"You know the prime minister is a simple person. Sometimes she chats and sings with others, creates a homely environment.
"At West Lake, she said, 'Get me a whistle'. Saber Hossain Chowdhury, Obaidul Quader and Syed Abul Hossain were there.
"She said, 'I'll blow this whistle and the three of you will run. Whoever is first will be a minister.
"Now she's the party chief, so Quader and Saber complied and ran. But Abul Hossain took it very seriously. He ran really fast and became first."
"Then he came to the prime minister and said, 'you have made a commitment, so you must make me the communications minister.'
"The prime minister resisted, saying it was a joke, that she was the opposition leader and there was no guarantee she would become the prime minister.
"But he got that commitment from her. Later he reminded the prime minister of the commitment when he became an MP.
"This is the true history of his becoming the communications minister. Whatever else he says, it did not happen in reality. We know, because we are so close to him."
However, Rony said he was not accompanying Hasina on that tour.
In another incident, Rony said Abul Hossain had told him, "Across the globe transport minister means the aviation ministry is under him, communications ministry and water transport ministry. The truth is that, despite running my work with such skill, I get a lot of spare time.
"If they can't run the aviation, they should give it to me. Water transport minister should give his ministry to me if he can't manage.
"I can run all of them. I want to show them how to work."
Rony also described the behaviour of the communications minister in parliament, adding, "He does not understand that people are joking with him. He thinks they laugh because they are appreciative."
Rony reassured bdnews24.com on Wednesday about the truth in his story.
"Ask the communications minister. If he denies, I will talk again."
Saber Hossain Chowdhury and Obaidul Qader were unavailable for comment on Rony's extraordinary tale.
Video: http://bdnews24.com/details.php?id=209328&cid=2
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