President Abdul Hamid has said the regulated and relatively secluded life of Bangabhaban, the presidential palace, appeared always "not pleasurable" as it debarred him from usual socialization with people at the grassroots.
He said: "Actually this place (Bangabhaban) is not always pleasurable for a highly political person... I mean someone (like me) who comes from grassroots politics."
The number one citizen of the republic made the statement while talking to BSS along with two other journalists attached to the Bangabhaban.
He added: "I don't feel good here, whatever good food you give to a caged bird, the feeling would not be like a bird in the wild. In fact, I find no personal or private life here."
The president's remarks came as he was approached for comments coinciding with the completion of the first year as the 20th President of Bangladesh.
In the conversation, the President frankly said about his early political life, parliamentary activities and Bangabhaban lifestyle.
About his one-year in Bangabhaban, Abdul Hamid said he has not that much work to do as a President as every work is being done here by his staff. "I came here with a responsibility. What I do here is routine work," he said.
He added: "In parliament, I used to get the food for mind, here in Bangabhaban, I don't get it . . . I can't do many things even if I wish, and you know, there are problems in making any wish," he said.
Explaining, the President said if he wanted to visit somewhere, he often held back the desire fearing that his motorcade movement would cause traffic jam on the street.
"And if I still want to visit someone's house, I know my motorcade would be ready in half an hour, but the street would be temporarily closed for general people, the security officials even check the kitchen of that house. . . this is embarrassing," he said.
"In parliament, I used to get the food for mind, here in Bangabhaban, I don't get it . . . I can't do many things even if I wish, and you know, there are problems in making any wish."
The President said, "I can't even get rid of protocol abroad. When I went abroad first time after becoming the President, I thought I would be a little bit free there. But I wasn't free there. Security personnel were always with me. I am not at all a free man."
Recalling that he used to stay in his home district for 5-7 days when he was the speaker, the President said, "I can't do it now. I may stay there in comfort but the constables who will be deployed there for my security might not get space to sleep."
He added that previously most of the residents of Bangabhaban were Supreme Court judges and educationists, which was alright for them "as they were not accustomed to interacting freely with common people."
Replying to a question that which position he enjoyed most, the smiling President said, "I had enjoyed the duty of deputy speaker as there was no administrative responsibility. The responsibility of deputy speaker is to only run the session. However, the speaker has to look after many things."
"I had done many things when I was the speaker. I had curtailed many expenses of parliament. But I can do nothing here at Bangabhaban. Oh yes, I have done one thing here. I reduced expenses of foreign trips. In the past, the rent of my hotel suite in Singapore was 6,000 Singaporean dollars per day. I reduced it to 600 dollars per day as I opted for a room,” he said.
The 70-year-old politician previously earned the repute of being a veteran parliamentarian for his election seven times to the House since 1970, when he was the youngest (26 years) lawmaker.
His parliamentary career earned him the position of the deputy speaker and eventually the speaker twice as well as popularity across the political lines.
