An unprecedented and unusual scene was seen at the national parliament building. There was no political argument or rush to pass laws; instead the whole parliament secretariat was buzzing over a "surprise" gift from the opposition leader and amir of Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami, Dr Shafiqur Rahman.

From the Speaker, ministers and all members of parliament (MPs) of the government and opposition to every grade of officer and fourth-class employee of the parliament secretariat, everyone received the special gift. A 10kg gift pack reached each person's hands or desk.

It was learnt that from the morning of Monday, 22 June, there was curiosity in the corridors of the parliament building about what the 10kg packs contained. Officers and staff of various grades at the parliament secretariat said the attractive packs sent on behalf of the opposition leader held delicious seasonal fruit: premium-quality mangoes. Representatives of the opposition leader's office delivered the gifts in a very orderly way to every office in parliament.

People at the opposition leader's office said the most striking thing about the distribution was that it was shared equally and nobody was left out. VIPs usually receive such gifts, but Dr Shafiqur Rahman's list also included parliament's cleaners, peons, liftmen and drivers.

An office assistant at the parliament secretariat said: "We do small jobs, and we only see big leaders' gifts from a distance. Today the opposition leader himself remembered us and sent this 10kg gift. It is a great honour for us."

In Bangladesh's familiar political culture, where the ice between government and opposition rarely melts, many ruling party MPs also welcomed Dr Shafiqur Rahman's gesture.

A ruling party MP who did not want to be named said: "Politics will stay in the field, but this kind of courtesy inside parliament is truly praiseworthy. The way Dr Shafiqur Rahman valued employees at every level will stand as a positive example."

Officers of the parliament secretariat said that since taking over as opposition leader, Dr Shafiqur Rahman has taken a number of unconventional and humane initiatives. They said the gift distribution was not just a material exchange but a clear political message about moving forward with all sides and valuing ordinary working people.

Source: Jagonews24. First published in Bengali on The Agro News.