Two Bangladeshi expatriates living in Oman and Qatar each won Dh150,000 in the Big Ticket weekly e-draw held in Abu Dhabi.
Minhaz Chowdhury, 38, who has been based in Oman for over 15 years, initially thought he had clinched the grand prize when he received the congratulatory call. Although it turned out to be the weekly e-draw, Chowdhury said he was thrilled after getting email confirmation.
“Even though it wasn’t the big one, it’s still my first step towards a big win,” he said, adding that he has been participating in Big Ticket draws with 10 friends for the past four years. Chowdhury plans to use part of his winnings to build a house and donate to charity.
Meanwhile, Rabiul Hassan, a 29-year-old driver who has lived in Qatar for eight years, also celebrated his Dh150,000 windfall. Hassan discovered Big Ticket through a Facebook advertisement three years ago and has been consistently buying tickets with a group of four friends.
“It was so exciting. I could jump,” he said, sharing plans to finally enjoy a family vacation and assist others in need.
Big Ticket runs weekly e-draws where five winners each take home Dh150,000. Every ticket bought in April qualifies for the weekly draws.