When there is no news, there’s always local news.

When I waked up in the morning today and read a few media headlines, I thought that I would forget about writing today, but then there’s always one or two story that immediately strikes you, and you fell the urge to shout and express yourself whether it has any impact or not. It hit me very personally to see so many injustices taking place in the world. I feel powerless to do anything about it, though my mind agitates me to fight and argue within, as if mind alone can defeat the evil facing our society.

The problem is not only confined to Bangladesh, but everywhere I look, I see this global village full of corruption, war, injustices, nepotism, and tyranny. So really, my mind is disturbed by many and not only one issue. Bu today, it’s not about foreign issue that I want to write, but I want to share about a local experience that had a story behind.

Last night a brother of mine phoned me to attend a reception party arranged by London BNP to honour Mr Mahibur Rahman, the current BNP international affairs secretary. I wasn’t that keen to go there since I always got bored by the many speakers saying the same thing over and over again. But Dilu Bai insisted that I go there; perhaps because it was much near to where I live, and he probably needed a company, so reluctantly I forced my self to be a part of that gathering.

As usual, the meeting started late. One by one, line of speakers began their flattery; some had suggested that Mahib Bai should stand for parliamentary election from Maulovi Bazar. Some one was even so bold to have said that he wanted Mahidur Rahman to be honoured with not only one MP title but two. I was bit confused at first, not a clue what he meant, then a colleague sitting next to me reminded that it was a famous joke that we Sylheti often fling at them: Maulovi Bazari Poga, in short MP – that was quiet a joke – every one burst in to laughter except me, because by the time I found out the joke had already died.

Newham councillor, Ayesha Chowdhury said something standing on the podium that caught my attention. I had always thought that she was an Awamileague supporter, and when she was called to give her speech I thought, here we go again, another brainless Balist probably will talk about freedom fight, war crime, and a lot of mumbo jumbo. But to my surprise, she began by saying, “let it be known that I am a BNP supporter, and it was this man who had inspired me to join BNP.”

She continued “I don’t agree with others that Mahib Bai will make a good MP in Bangladesh, because he has a noble character, therefore, he wouldn’t know how to do corruption, pay bags full of money to buy votes, and in my opinion people like him will be corrupted if he goes there.”

Everyone seems to have agreed with her, and then another speaker came to the podium who disagreed with Councillor Ayesha. His argument was plausible. He argued that people like Mahib Bai could have a positive impact on those who do corruption, as one needs clean water to remove dirt, and Mahib Bai could offer that clean water. I agreed with both of the speaker, as conditionally both of them could be right, and both could be wrong. All depend on the strength and weakness of the subject. If the subject character is strong, he could be in any environment without being corrupted, and if he is weak, he can be easily corrupted.

I had seen Mr Mahib making speeches many times in Water Lily save Bangladesh program in the past. His speech is certainly well measured, and he is not a guy who shouts a lot like BNP’s former president Abdul Malik. I think BNP made a good choice to give him the post of international affairs secretary. Time quickly went, and it was already ten by my watch, and there was still a line of speakers remaining to shower him with adjectives. By then we already had our starter’s somosa and chicken tikka, but the main course wasn’t going to come any time soon, certainly not before every one had spoken, so I made an excuse seemingly to receive a phone call and sneaked out of the unfinished meeting to my home leaving the deputy Mayor of Tower hamlets and others to deliver their unfinished flattery.