Zunaid Ahmed Palak is a lot of things. He is a politician, a member of the parliament, a state minister, the youngest Bangladeshi for the latter two. And yet he has talents hitherto unheard of, e.g. his singing prowess.
In a recently viral Facebook video, Palak can be seen on stage alongside one of the cornerstones of Bangladeshi music – Ayub Bacchu. He unabashedly admits to sucking at writing poems for his sweetheart as a teenager, and confesses to using the lyrics to Ayub Bacchu’s “Ami Koshto Pete Bhalobashi” in his love letter. He also admitted to once aspiring to be a rockstar like Bacchu.
Following a rousing call for support by the state minister, Ayub Bacchu started off his most recognizable track “Cholo Bodle Jai” and Palak broke into song.
Sure, his voice does not have the booming, expansive beckoning that Bacchu’s voice has familiarized us with the song. But Palak pulls it off well. Not missing a beat, unwavering, and confident as he performed the song in its entirety and then stepping down.
The video is from the closing ceremony of Digital World 2017, an expo held in Dhaka last December.
Palak has song at multiple public events since then. A couple months ago in March, he performed the same song, along with several other retro numbers. It appears the minister is always eager to live his teen fantasy of living the rockstar life.
