Mohammad Rayful, fourth from left, who won the lottery of Tk 105 crore in the UAE, along with some of the expatriate Bangladeshi winners. Photo: Collected
An expatriate Bangladeshi won 35 million dirhams in the Big Ticket raffle draw in Abu Dhabi recently.
However, Mohammad Rayful is not the sole winner of Tk 105 crore in the UAE Big Ticket lottery jackpot. Another 18 Bangladeshis and one Indian expatriate had purchased the lottery ticket in a joint investment along with him.
The expatriate workers became millionaires overnight by winning the lottery on the ticket number 043678, bought for about Tk 14,000 (500 dihram).
A group of 20 expatriates won 35 million dirhams, about Tk 105 crore in Bangladeshi currency, in the draw of 'The Big Ticket Raffle' in Abu Dhabi, which was bought in the name of Rayful.
Rayful is a pickup van and taxi driver by profession. He bought the winning ticket on December 10, 2022. The remaining winners are also low-income migrant workers like him. They are daily wage labourers, drivers, painters, and helpers.
Many of these 20 expats have been buying raffle tickets for nine years but have never been as lucky as they were until this week of the new year.
The hometowns of the 19 expatriate Bangladeshis are located in different districts of Bangladesh, including Noakhali and Chattogram.
Mohammad Rayful, of Raipur in Noakhali district, who lives in Al Ain city, said, "We bought big tickets with 20 people. Some of us gave 200 dirhams, 125 dirhams, 50 dirhams and some even gave 25 dirhams."
He also said that after receiving the 35 million dirhams (Tk 105 crore) from the Big Ticket authority, the money would be divided proportionately among the 20 migrants according to their investment.
Rayful, 39, was driving through a market when Big Ticket hosts Richard and Bouchera tried to call him, but could not reach him.
"I was driving and couldn't receive the calls. However, one of the team members were watching the live show and told me about winning the lottery. I couldn't believe it. So, I checked the live show and found the number that matched my ticket. It was a blessed moment," said Rayful, who earns 2,000 to 3,000 dirhams a month.
"We all come from less than privileged families. We are all trying to make a living here. Most of us earn between Dh1,000 to 3,000. Everyone is facing a financial crisis and always hopes that the situation will improve," Rayful said over the phone from Al Ain.
Others in the group such as Mohammad Aftab, Mahabub, Mohammad Rubel, and Toeb are excited by this unexpected jackpot at the beginning of the year.
"Our team of lottery winners is quite excited and trying to soak in the fact that they are now millionaires."
The team of overnight millionaires have not yet made up their mind about what they will do with the money in the future and they are all back to their normal work today.
"We are settled for life but we will continue to work normally. We will decide what to do with the money in the coming days. We have to be humble and help the countrymen in need," said Rayful.
The author is an expatriate journalist based in the UAE
