PM Tarique meets boy whose viral smile hid a story of loss

Prime Minister Tarique Rahman today (29 July) met Tahsin Abdullah, the schoolboy whose photo showing him smiling joyfully at the closing ceremony of Notun Kuri Sports 2025-26 went viral on social media, after learning the heartbreaking story behind the photograph.

Tahsin, a student of Milestone School and College in Uttara, had lost his elder sister in the fighter jet crash at the institution in July last year.

The meeting took place at the Prime Minister’s Office at the Bangladesh Secretariat, where Tarique spent time with the boy, encouraged him to pursue his dreams and presented him with gifts, including a drone set, a basketball and a football bearing his autograph.

Prime Minister’s Additional Press Secretary Atikur Rahman Rumon shared details of the meeting with reporters.

Rumon said Tahsin had no idea he was going to meet the Prime Minister until he entered the Prime Minister’s Office.

“Tahsin and his father were told they were being taken to an office at the Secretariat. After entering Building No. 1, he came to know it was the Prime Minister’s Office. As soon as he entered the room and saw the Prime Minister, he became overwhelmed with joy, smiled brightly, greeted him and said it was the happiest day of his life as he was seeing the Prime Minister from so close,” Rumon said.

He said the meeting was arranged after a photograph taken during the closing ceremony of Notun Kuri Sports at the Bangladesh Army Stadium on 27 July caught the Prime Minister’s attention. 

The image, showing a schoolboy in uniform stretching out both hands towards Tarique Rahman with a radiant smile, quickly went viral on social media and touched countless people.

“The Prime Minister was also moved by the photograph. After learning the tragic story behind the smiling face, he instructed that the child be brought to meet him,” Rumon said.

He said Moksedul Momin Mithun, member secretary of Amra BNP Poribar, visited Tahsin’s home this morning and brought the boy and his father to the Prime Minister’s Office.

Tahsin was delighted to receive the gifts from the Prime Minister and made a request.

“After receiving the basketball, Tahsin asked the Prime Minister for an autograph on it. The Prime Minister happily fulfilled that request,” Rumon added.

Tahsin is now a seventh-grade student at Milestone School and College. His father, Nazmul Haque, is a small businessman.

The family lost its eldest daughter, Tasmia, in the tragic fighter jet crash on the school premises in July, 2025.

Recalling the tragedy, Nazmul Haque said both of his children had been in separate buildings on the day of the crash.

“Tahsin was in class VI while Tasmia was in class VIII. The aircraft crashed into her building. Hearing the explosion, Tahsin ran to look for his sister. Someone told him saline and water were needed. He stood there holding bottles of saline and water for his sister. But that wait never ended,” he said.

He said the tragedy changed his son completely.

“After losing his sister, Tahsin stopped smiling the way he used to. During a healing session, he wrote, ‘I am in great pain. I have lost my beloved sister. She died. I miss her so much. She was my best friend.'”

During the conversation, the Prime Minister asked Tahsin about his studies and what he wanted to become in the future.

Tahsin replied that he wanted to become a successful businessman and hoped to create something that would benefit people and attract their interest.

The Prime Minister praised his ambition and advised him to study attentively, play sports regularly and remain committed to achieving his dreams.

Speaking after the meeting, an excited Tahsin said he had never imagined he would get the opportunity to meet the Prime Minister.

“It was a complete surprise. Today is the happiest day of my life. I can’t wait to go to school and tell my friends that I met the Prime Minister,” he said.

Tahsin said the Prime Minister spoke to him like a member of the family.

“I didn’t feel nervous at all. I also toured the Prime Minister’s Office. I was fascinated by the model cars and ships kept there. I even took a selfie with the Prime Minister using my father’s mobile phone,” he said.

Prime Minister Tarique Rahman also expressed his deep sympathy and condolences to Nazmul Haque over the loss of his daughter in the Milestone tragedy.

Additional Press Secretary Atikur Rahman Rumon, Private Secretary-2 to the Prime Minister Md Mehedul Islam, Assistant Private Secretary-2 Abdur Rahman Sani, Associate Professor Dr Shah Muhammad Aman Ullah, Deputy Press Secretary Zahidul Islam Rony and Amra BNP Poribar Member Secretary Moksedul Momin Mithun were present during the meeting.