No gifts, No flattery

Abu Sayeed Al Mahmood, elected lawmaker from Joypurhat-2, in a Facebook post has urged locals in his area to “stop flattering” him at the various programmes he attends.

Sayeed, also organisational secretary of Rajshahi AL, was first elected as a lawmaker from the constituency in the 2014 election.

Even when he was elected MP for the first time, Sayeed at a public meeting had urged locals not to present him with crests, gifts or bouquets.

He also addressed the deployment of students from different schools to “greet” him at events despite his strong objections on the matter.

In a Facebook post on Saturday afternoon, he wrote, “Some people of educational institutions, including primary schools, and local leaders forced students to stand under the sun, which is harming them…”

He further said he would boycott any programme if he saw students lined up on the streets.

He said such situations “make his image questionable”.

In order to prevent the loss of funds from different organisations, he requested people to follow the eight instructions he wrote on the post, which included not presenting him with crest, flowers or gifts, and not to put up arched gates at the entrance of any event to welcome him.

He also urged teachers of education institutions to refrain from teaching students to “beg for what they want”.

Finally, he requested people not to address him as “sir”.

“I am a representative of the republic, an elected representative of the people. We have sworn to work for the country and the people. The state gives me legal wages, allowances, honorarium and benefits. I am not lord or a zamindar,” he wrote.