United News of Bangladesh

Prime Minister Tarique Rahman has sent gifts to a security guard of an ATM booth who used to quietly greet his motorcade every day by standing with a sheaf of paddy beside a busy road in the capital. Prime Minister's Additional Press Secretary Atikur Rahman Rumon visited guard Abdus Salam in Ramna area on Wednesday morning and handed over the gifts on behalf of the Prime Minister. Rumon also enquired about Salam's health and family during the visit. Abdus Salam, a resident of Nagarbari Ghat area in Pabna, has been working as a security guard at the ATM booth of a private bank near former Ramna Police Station for the past eight months. He previously worked as a driver but had to give up the job after suffering a stroke. Since then, he has been working as a security guard despite his poor health, standing duty for 12 hours a day from 8am to 8pm. Every day, as the Prime Minister travels to his office at the Secretariat, Salam stands outside the ATM booth holding a sheaf of paddy as a gesture of respect and greeting. The Prime Minister quietly noticed the gesture over time and later asked his Additional Press Secretary to find the man and deliver gifts to him. Receiving the gifts, an emotional Abdus Salam said he had never imagined that the Prime Minister would notice him or send him anything. Expressing his gratitude, Salam said he admired the Prime Minister and his family and always greeted him whenever his motorcade passed by. "Every day when the Prime Minister passes this road, I salute him. He also smiles and greets me from inside his vehicle. His smile fills my heart with joy. Today is the happiest day of my life. The Prime Minister has sent gifts to an ordinary person like me. I could not have asked for anything more," he said.