A boat made of gold gifted to Land Minister Dilu

Land Minister Shamshur Rahman Sharif Dilu is in news for accepting a golden gift.

On Saturday evening, an local Awami League leader gifted Dilu a boat made of gold during the inauguration of a 'Shaheed Minar' at the Selimpur Degree College in Iswardi.

The boat is the party symbol of the Awami League.

The minister accepted the gift from Selimpur Union's Awami League vice-president Taufiquzzaman Ratan.

"This gift is a mark of my respect for him (Dilu). I see him as a role model and this is a personal decision to honour him," said Ratan.

"This is a gift given by an Awami League leader to an Awami League minister. We have nothing to do with it," said Selimpur Degree College principal Rabiul Alam.

Minister Dilu has been involved with several government programmes in Iswardi, Atgharia and Sirajganj during August, the month of mourning.

He has rebuked party functionaries for garlanding him during some of these programmes.

But many present at the Selimpur College 'Shaheed Minar' inauguration say the minister did not show any displeasure while accepting the boat made of gold.

Several Awami League district leaders say they are embarassed.

" The minister has become a target of criticism after accepting such an expensive gift. The party is also dragged into the controversy," said a senior Awami League leader on condition of anonymity.

Such controversies over acceptance of expensive gifts -- specially boats made of gold -- has occurred before.

The government has advised ministers not to acceot such gifts -- or hand them over to the national exchequer if accepted.