Prime Minister Tarique Rahman met Tahsin Abdullah, a schoolboy whose heartwarming smile at the closing ceremony of the Notun Kuri Sports 2025-26 touched millions, a year after the boy lost his elder sister in the Milestone School fighter jet crash. Learning the heartbreaking story behind the widely shared photograph of the smiling boy on social media, the prime minister met Tahsin and his father Nazmul Haque at the Prime Minister's Office at Bangladesh Secretariat.
A photograph of Tahsin during the closing ceremony of the 'Notun Kuri Sports 2025-26' at Bangladesh Army Stadium in the capital on July 27 went viral on social media, showing Tahsin in his school uniform stretching out both hands towards the Prime Minister with an expression of pure joy. But behind that heartwarming smile was a story of deep personal grief.
Background of the Tragedy
In July 2025, Tahsin lost his elder sister Tasnia in the tragic fighter jet crash at Milestone School in Uttara. Although both siblings studied at the same school, they were in separate buildings on that fateful day. Tahsin was then a sixth-grade student, while Tasnia was an eighth-grader. The fighter jet crashed into the building where Tasnia was attending classes.
Hearing the deafening explosion, young Tahsin rushed to find his elder sister. After hearing that saline and water were needed, he stood waiting with bottles of saline and water in his small hands for his sister. But that wait never ended.
A Year of Healing
According to his family, the tragedy changed Tahsin completely. During a healing session after the incident, he wrote: “I am in great pain. I have lost my beloved sister. She died. I miss her so, so much. She was my best friend.” Since losing his sister, Tahsin's once cheerful and lively smile was rarely seen. But on July 27 was a different day. At the Bangladesh Army Stadium, as Prime Minister Tarique Rahman was moving around the field during the closing ceremony, Tahsin became overwhelmed with joy when the prime minister came near him.
Prime Minister's Visit
His innocent smile and excitement were captured on camera, and the photograph later spread widely on social media, with many people connecting emotionally with the boy’s happiness. Later, the prime minister came to know that behind the smiling face in the photograph was a heartbreaking family history. After learning the details, he directed his Additional Press Secretary Atikur Rahman Rumon to take steps to inquire about Tahsin and his family.
As Tahsin arrived at Prime Minister’s Office, the prime minister enquired about Tahsin's studies and ambitions. Tahsin said he wanted to become a successful businessman and do something that would benefit people and attract them. The prime minister appreciated his dream and advised the young boy to concentrate on his studies, play sports regularly and work with sincerity and dedication to achieve his goals.
During the conversation, Tahsin said football was his favourite sports. The prime minister gifted him a basketball bearing his autograph and a drone set. After the meeting, an excited Tahsin said he was very happy to meet the prime minister again. He said he never imagined he would get such an opportunity and described the entire experience as a complete surprise. He said he was eagerly waiting to go to school and share the story of meeting the prime minister with his friends. Prime Minister Tarique Rahman also expressed deep sympathy and condolence to Tahsin’s father over the tragic loss of his daughter in the Milestone fighter jet crash.
