President Hamid treats journalists to his favourite meals at Bangabhaban dinner

President Md Abdul Hamid has regaled media professional to his favourite dishes with fish from the backswamps of his home district Kishoreganj.

Brimming with his usual warmth, wit and sense of humour, the head of the state regaled the guests with stories ripe with memorable moments, including one in which Bangabandhu struck him in the back with the fist, at the Bangabhaban dinner on Monday.  

Journalists and top newspaper and TV executives along with reporters who cover Bangabhaban attended the event.

Information Minister Hasanul Haq Inu and Prime Minister’s Media Affairs Adviser Iqbal Sobhan Chowdhury were also entertained. National Press Club President Muhammad Shafiqur Rahman and leaders of many other journalist organisations also joined in.

bdnews24.com Editor-in-Chief Toufique Imrose Khalidi, Ekushey TV CEO Monjurul Ahsan Bulbul, Kaler Kantho Editor Imdadul Haq Milon, Bhorer Kagoj Editor Shyamal Dutta, Daily Samakal Acting Editor Mustafiz Shafi, among others, attended the event and exchanged greetings with the president.

Bangabhaban officials said the dinner was different from any other hosted at the presidential palace as Hamid himself chose the courses off the regular menu.

The guests were spoilt with the main dishes made with ayrh (long-whiskered catfish) and gulsha tengra (Gangetic mystus) - fishes from the Haor or backswamps. Pomfrets, vegetables, mung bean, goat meat, and plain rice were also on the menu. Yoghurt and local sweets were served as dessert.

The journalists engaged in conversations with the president who also recalled memories with the journalists who he knew from his time as speaker of parliament. He also posed for photos with them.

‘Bangabandhu thumped me’

The president also delivered a speech at the gathering where he shared experiences of his election to the Pakistan National Assembly and his stints as speaker, deputy leader of the House and then president.

He was the youngest of the winners when he contested in the 1970 elections.

After independence, he was stopped at the parliament building’s gate as he wanted to enter the complex riding a rickshaw.

“I asked why I could not get my rickshawpuller into the complex if the other MPs were allowed to take their chauffeurs inside,” he said. 

He had also served a notice complaining of infringement of his rights on a parliamentary committee having been denied the rickshaw ride into the complex, Hamid said.

He did not withdraw the notice as requested by the then chief whip Shah Moazzem Hossain, who is now a BNP leader. 

Later, whip Rafia Akter told Hamid that Bangabandhu had called him.

“I did not believe at first that Bangabandhu had called me. When I met him, he asked whether I had served the notice. I said yes, and I would not withdraw it even though I have been asked to do so.

“Then Bangabandhu thumped me on my back and asked me to lift it. He said he will look into the issue,” Hamid recalled.     

The president said he had later bought a car abandoned by the army for Tk 5,000 at an auction.