ATM booth guard receives gift from PM Tarique

“I never imagined that I would ever come to the prime minister's attention or that he would send me a gift,” Abdus Salam says

A security guard working at an ATM booth of a private bank in the capital, Abdus Salam, has received a gift from Prime Minister Tarique Rahman.

The information was confirmed on Wednesday by Deputy Press Secretary, Md Suzauddhowla, who said the gift had been delivered.

He said, "On his daily commute to the Secretariat, the honorable prime minister noticed that Abdus Salam, a security guard standing in front of an ATM booth near Purana Paltan Police Station, would hold a sheaf of paddy (the BNP's electoral symbol) as a silent gesture of greeting. His quiet expression of respect and affection eventually caught the prime minister's attention. The prime minister then instructed his Additional Press Secretary, Atikur Rahman Ruman, to find out more about the man and deliver a gift on his behalf."

"Around 11:30am on Wednesday, the additional press secretary met Abdus Salam and personally handed over the gift. He also inquired about Salam's health and the well-being of his family."

Abdus Salam hails from Nagarbari Ghat in Pabna. Due to financial hardship, he has been working for the past eight months as a security guard at a private bank's ATM booth in front of Ramna Police Station. Before taking this job, he worked as a private car driver. However, after suffering a stroke, he was no longer able to drive and subsequently took up the position of a security guard. Despite his poor health, he works continuously for 12 hours a day, from 8am to 8pm.

The deputy press secretary said, "Abdus Salam became deeply emotional upon receiving the prime minister's gift. Expressing his gratitude, he said, 'I never imagined that I would ever come to the prime minister's attention or that he would send me a gift. I love Prime Minister Tarique Rahman's father, I love his mother, Begum Khaleda Zia, and I love Prime Minister Tarique Rahman. Tarique Rahman is a part of my very soul.'”

The deputy press secretary quoted Salam saying: “Whenever he passes along this road, I always salute the prime minister, and every day he smiles and returns my salute from inside his vehicle. Seeing his smile fills my heart with joy. Today is the best day of my life—the happiest day I have ever experienced.'"

The deputy press secretary added, "The prime minister's compassionate response to the quiet respect and affection shown by an ordinary citizen has also been widely praised by local residents. They said that recognising such sincere feelings from an ordinary person while carrying out the responsibilities of public office is undoubtedly a remarkable example of humanity."