Bangladeshi expat Abul Monsur, hailing from Chattogram, has won Dh20 million, or over Tk65 crore, grand prize with the latest Big Ticket draw in the United Arab Emirates.
He will be sharing the winnings announced in Abu Dhabi today with 12 friends, reports Gulf News.
A 52-year-old mason working in Abu Dhabi, Monsur said he has been buying the raffle draws’ entries since 2007 and finally luck turned to his side.
“I have been working here in the UAE since 2007 and purchasing Big Ticket for 16 years now. Thirteen of us friends had bought this winning ticket together,” Monsur is quoted by Gulf News after hitting the grand prize with ticket number 311573.
The winning ticket was purchased on 27 September.
“I was watching the show live. We can’t express our joy when our number was called. We are all so excited,” said Monsur, who works as a mason, told the Dubai-based outlet.
Most of his friends, who will share the winnings, also work in the construction sector earning between Dh1,000 and Dh3,000 each, according to the report.
“We have been pooling in money – Dh50, Dh100 and more – to purchase these tickets. This time we bought tickets worth Dh1,000. We always believed that lady luck would smile on us one day. We have all become millionaires now,” he said.
With the prize money, Monsur hopes to ensure a better quality of life for his family.
“I hail from Chattogram. I have a wife, a daughter and two boys, both working in Dubai. Our future is secure. I will continue to buy tickets,” said the 52-year-old who plans to try his luck at the November draw of Big Ticket as well.
