Saudi expatriate gifts two lakh taka to Gaibandha farmer after rodents destroy life savings

A 72-year-old farmer in Gaibandha’s Sundarganj Upazila, who lost his life savings of 200,000 taka after rodents and termites shredded the banknotes, has received full financial restitution from a Saudi Arabia-based expatriate.

Mizanur Rahman, a businessman residing in Saudi Arabia, arranged for the funds to be delivered to the farmer, Tofazzal Hossain, after reading a report regarding the incident. Mizanur’s brother, Habibur Rahman, formally handed over the money to Hossain on Wednesday afternoon at the farmer’s home in Dhumaitari village.

Habibur Rahman stated that his brother, who frequently engages in charitable activities, decided to assist the farmer immediately upon learning of the loss through media reports. Following the arrival of Habibur Rahman from Dhaka, the funds were presented in the presence of local community members, including former school headmaster Shah Jahan Mia, businessman Jewel Rana, and the farmer’s family members.

Tofazzal Hossain, who works as a day laborer and occasional rickshaw driver, had stored 150,000 taka saved from his time working in Dhaka, alongside 50,000 taka provided by his son-in-law for a home sanitation project, inside a wooden cupboard. On August 8, the farmer discovered that the currency had been destroyed by pests. A video of the distraught couple surveying the shredded notes subsequently went viral, highlighting their plight.

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Overcome with emotion upon receiving the compensation, Hossain expressed his gratitude toward the benefactor. His wife, Fatema Khatun, noted that the loss had severely impacted her husband’s physical and mental health, leaving him in a state of constant distress until the donation was received.

Tofazzal Hossain, who settled in Dhumaitari village after migrating from a nearby river island, continues to rely on manual labor to sustain his family. Local observers praised the expatriate’s intervention, which has provided the family with essential financial security.