Vatican City: Chief Adviser's Press Secretary Shafiqul Alam has revealed why Chief Adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus wore a black Kurta at the funeral of the late Pope Francis in Vatican City.
According to Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha, the revelation came in a statement posted on Alam's verified Facebook account. Alam explained that the incident occurred during their visit to Qatar, where Professor Muhammad Yunus was participating in the Earthna Summit. It was during this trip that they received the news of Pope Francis's demise, just hours before their flight to Qatar.
On the second day of their tour, the funeral mass's date was announced, prompting the Chief Adviser to decide to attend and pay his last respects to his longtime friend and advocate for the poor and marginalized. Alam noted that there was a specific protocol for attending such a solemn event, requiring attendees to wear black attire, preferably a suit. However, Professor Yunus had long abandoned wearing suits.
Alam further explained that wherever Yunus travels, he opts for a Kurta made from Grameen checks, a traditional fabric from Bangladesh. Unfortunately, they discovered that he possessed a black Koti but no matching black Kurta. The Chief Adviser's staff scoured various markets in Doha for a black Kurta, only to find the available options prohibitively expensive.
In a final attempt, the team visited ordinary markets to locate a Dorji, or tailor, who could quickly sew a black Kurta. Despite their efforts, they initially had no success. However, fortune smiled upon them when they encountered a shop where a tailor from the subcontinent recognized Yunus and agreed to craft a black Kurta in record time. The Kurta was completed at the cost of approximately Taka 5,000.