BNP Acting Chairman Tarique Rahman drew attention at the massive public reception on the July 36 Expressway in Purbachal on Thursday, December 25, when he chose not to sit on the specially decorated chair reserved for him on the stage, preferring instead an ordinary plastic chair.
The reception, attended by millions of supporters, had a royal golden chair prepared for Tarique Rahman, complete with foam padding and draped in white satin for comfort.
However, the BNP leader requested that an ordinary chair be brought from nearby instead.
A member of the Chairperson’s Security Force (CSF) promptly arranged brought in a plastic for him.
On the stage, BNP Standing Committee member Salahuddin Ahmed stood nearby, while Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir delivered a brief speech.
Standing Committee member Mirza Abbas was seated on Tarique Rahman’s left.
Earlier, Tarique Rahman made his way to the reception stage through a sea of supporters.
After landing at the airport, he travelled by bus towards the July 36 Expressway, where thousands of party leaders and activists lined the route holding placards, banners and flowers.
Supporters chanted slogans such as “Tarique Rahman er agaman, shubhechchha, swagatoa” (Welcome and best wishes to Tarique Rahman) and “Deshnetar agaman, shubhechchha, swagatam”.
Tarique Rahman stepped out of the bus along the route to wave and greet the crowd, eventually reaching the stage after a long and warmly received procession from the airport.
His choice to sit on a simple chair instead of the royal seat was widely noticed and praised by attendees for its humility.