Bangladeshi crane operator in Dubai wins Dhs1 million in Mahzooz draw

Gulf Today, Staff Reporter

Fortune has favoured a Bangladeshi expat, Abdul Khader, in the 46th weekly live Mahzooz draw. The lucky winner bagged the Dhs 1,000,000 second prize after matching five out of the six winning numbers, which were 2, 17, 40, 41, 42, and 45. Abdul Khader, a crane operator in Dubai, also has the distinction of being Mahzooz’s first Bangladeshi millionaire, and Mahzooz’s 16th overall millionaire of 2021.

In a classic rags-to-riches turn of events, the 32-year-old who has never held a bank account in the UAE found himself unimaginably wealthy overnight. “I’m still grappling with how many zeroes there are in one million dirhams! Since I moved to Dubai 10 years ago, every dirham I earn has been sent to my family in Bangladesh.”

The devoted family man has chosen to live such a frugal existence that even a working phone internet plan has remained a luxury for him.

“I was working the night shift and was trying to watch the draw show live on my phone, but my data kept buffering. I finally called my roommate to check the results and found out I had matched five out of six numbers in my fifth time participating! It’s so great that even people like me, who aren’t very well-to-do, can afford to participate in Mahzooz!”

What Abdul Khader is most excited about is that his win grants him the ability to splurge on his wife: “First, I will go shop for some gold for my wife. I’ve never been able to save enough to even buy her a grain of gold.”

Abdul Khader ’s other intentions for his winnings go to show that the selfless blue-collar worker has a heart of gold.

“I want to use a portion of my prize money to help my brother and father who have been facing a lot of financial setbacks. Then I’ll build a house and rent it out – that will ensure we have a steady stream of income for years to come.”

The father of two will also put aside a part of his winnings for his children’s education: “I’ve only been educated up to third gradeand had to drop out of school to support my family. This winning amount will ensure that unlike me, my children can chase any dream they want.”

After he has squared away his family’s needs, Abdul Khader hopes to invest in a cattle farm. “I’ve always worried about the future. But this life-changing win from Mahzooz will ensure my future isn’t full of hardships, but one of opportunities that were out of my reach before. I’m so grateful to Mahzooz.”