‘Never thought I’d win’: 2 Bangladeshi expats strike it lucky in Big Ticket Abu Dhabi draw

Abu Dhabi: Two Bangladeshi expats residing in Oman and Qatar have each won Dh150,000 in Big Ticket’s weekly e-draw held in Abu Dhabi.

For Minhaz Chowdhury, a 38-year-old who has been living in Oman for more than 15 years, the moment was filled with suspense as he initially mistook the congratulatory call for news that he had won the grand prize. While it turned out to be the weekly e-draw, he was still just as excited.
“I only believed it when I got the email confirming it. Even though it wasn’t the big one, it’s still my first step towards a big win,” said Chowdhury, who has been trying his luck for the past four years.

He and a group of 10 friends have been pooling money to buy tickets. With plans to build a new home and contribute to charity, he will continue purchasing tickets.

“I never thought I’d win, but here I am,” Chowdhury noted.

Trying for three years
Meanwhile, Meanwhile, Rabiul Hassan, a 29-year-old driver from Chittagong who has lived in Qatar for eight years, also struck lucky. He discovered Big Ticket through a Facebook ad about three years ago and has been buying tickets with a group of four friends ever since.

He was overjoyed to learn about his win.

“Of course, I can’t explain. It was so exciting. I could jump,” said Hassan, who plans to finally take a vacation with his family – something they haven’t done in over three years – and hopes to support others in need.
Every week, five winners walk away with Dh150,000 through Big Ticket’s weekly e-draws. Every ticket purchased in April qualifies for these draws.