Bangladeshi taxi driver in UAE wins Tk66.2cr jackpot after years of trying

For more than 15 years, Harun Sarder Nur Nobi Sarder has worked long shifts behind the wheel as a private taxi driver in Sharjah, sending money back home to his family in Bangladesh.

On Friday, October 3, his life changed in an instant when he became the latest multimillionaire in Abu Dhabi's Big Ticket draw, taking home the grand prize of Dh20 million (Tk 66.26 crore), says the Khaleej Times.

Harun, 44, bought his winning ticket, number 035350, on September 14, pooling money with 10 others — a practice common among expatriates who hope to improve their odds by sharing tickets.

When the show's hosts, Richard and Bouchra, phoned him live during the draw to deliver the news, Harun could barely find the words, repeating only: "Ok, ok." His stunned reaction reflected not only the size of the prize but the years of persistence it took to finally strike lucky.

Harun Sarder Nur Nobi Sarder. Photos: Big Ticket

"I never gave up," Harun later told organisers, recalling how he had faithfully purchased tickets every month since moving to the UAE in 2009. For him, Abu Dhabi has been home for much of the past 15 years, even while his wife and children remained in Bangladesh.

Harun's story mirrors that of many migrant workers in the Gulf, who endure long hours away from loved ones in hopes of building a better future. Now, with the jackpot in hand, he says the win is not just his but will be shared with the family, friends, and co-participants who believed in the dream alongside him.

The Big Ticket organisers said Harun is the latest in a growing list of expatriates who have struck fortune through the monthly raffle. The next draw on November 3 will raise the prize even higher, with a Dh25 million jackpot at stake.

For Harun, though, the wait is already over. After 15 years of driving strangers around Sharjah, he now has the means to chart a very different road ahead.