DHAKA: Time flies, especially between rent payments. No sooner is it paid and, seemingly, its time to pay again!

Sir Frank Peters says he could have sworn it’s only been a week since he held a Bangladeshi baby in his arms who carries the name, Frank Peters Joseph Ali.

“Incredibly, a year has passed and now Little Frank has teeth that gnaws at anything you give him – including the fingers that feed him,” laughed Sir Frank.

“Thanks to Allah, he is happy, healthy and lights-up the entire neighbourhood with his smile. A few more Bangladeshis like him and Sheikh Hasina’s power shortage problems will be resolved,” he added.

Last December Gazipur couple Ali Akbar and his wife Poppy named their son in tribute to the human rights activist and anti-corporal punishment campaigner – the first time in Bangladesh history a foreigner has been honoured in this manner.

This year another young couple, Mamun and Tanya Ali from Banasree, Rangpura, also named their newborn son in tribute to the ‘foreign friend of Bangladesh’.

“If this continues, one day I will have my own cricket team in Bangladesh,” said Sir Frank.

This week, however, was disappointing for him. He said he was “extremely disheartened” he was not able to attend his namesake’s first birthday party because of the political disturbances that have severely disrupted the nation.

“While people have every right to withdraw their labour and air their grievances in public, they have no right to enslave, shackle and hold the rest of the community hostage and in fear of even leaving their homes,” he said.

“I hope both of my boys will not only grow up to be happy and healthy, but to be kind to, respectful of, and considerate of all living creatures and property; both government and privately owned. My wish is for them to become ambassadors for themselves, their religion, their family and Bangladesh and to live respectful lives in a free society of prosperity and advancement,” he said.

BDST: 1416 HRS, DEC 08, 2013