Gopalganj: Imam Sheikh, till very recently, was making his living in Tungipara, Gopalganj ferrying items on his rickshaw-van (van-gaari).

That is until he came to the limelight during the last visit to her ancestral home by Tungipara’s most famous daughter: none other than Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina. In a true case of ‘lucky passenger’, it so happened that when the PM along with her nephew and grandchildren wanted to take a trip through the village, Imam’s otherwise nondescript vehicle became the subject of cameramen’s lenses.

Photos of the PM and her entourage going around Tungipara in Imam’s open-top rickshaw van were widely circulated. 

Now comes the news that Imam has joined Bangladesh Air Force (BAF) as a ‘supplier’ at Jessore outpost on Thursday morning.

Imam joined as a supplier at Falcon Bakery of BAF Jessore outpost on temporary basis, said Warrant Officer Abdul Hye, in-charge of the bakery.

He will deliver the products of the bakery to BAF’s outposts and to 25/30 shops of BAF Shahin College, Hye added.

Imam joined here on temporary basis and later his job will be made permanent after a circular is issued, he said.

Expressing his happiness, Imam, son of Abdul Latif Sheikh of Sardapar village in Tungipara upazila, said “I am very happy for getting this job, although it is a low-paid salary. I thank Prime Minister Hasina for giving me a job.”

He also expressed his gratitude to the news media for publishing his expectation of getting a job. During his meeting with the PM, Imam could not express his hope of seeking a job from the PM due to hesitation. However, he expressed his desire to the journalists, who reported it nationally.

Once her attention was drawn to the matter,  the PM arranged the job for him.