Lawmaker from Tangail-2 (Gopalpur-Vuapur) constituency Tanvir Hasan Chhoto Monir came under severe criticism on Tuesday by people from different strata of society following harvesting raw paddy. A 25-second video clip went viral on social media yesterday showing the lawmaker harvesting raw paddy along with his associates at a field at Saindal village under Gopalpur upazila in Tangail.
Several Awami League and Chhatra League leaders under his constituency, including Gopalpur thana AL general secretary Suruj Talukder, were present with him at that time. Contacted, Tanvir Hasan told Bangladesh Post: “I was returning after distributing relief. At that time, I saw a farmer harvesting paddy at a field. I asked him why he was harvesting alone, and then joined him for some time.”
“After cutting some bunches of paddy, I handed those over to my fellow activists who were accompanying me. I took part in harvesting to inspire all,” he added. In reply to the query over why he was cutting raw paddy, the lawmaker said, “The paddies were not raw at all.” In this regard, a local journalist on condition of anonymity said “Chhoto Monir is a member of parliament. Such a gallery show is not expected from a person like him. It is a matter of great sorrow to see a lawmaker harvesting raw paddy and shooting the scene, only for becoming popular on social media.”
Contacted, Gopalpur upazila agriculture officer Shahidul Islam, told Bangladesh Post: “The incident happened at Saindal village under Gopalpur upazila. After seeing the video clip, I have personally visited the spot. As the field is situated beside the river, the leaves remained green even after 90pc paddy ripened.”
So, he claimed, the incident is nothing unusual. A good number of people from his constituency, however, alleged that the lawmaker arranged ‘a photo-shoot’ harvesting raw paddy, only to become popular.
