PM Tarique meets boy whose viral smile hid a story of loss

Prime Minister Tarique Rahman on Wednesday met Tahsin Abdullah, the schoolboy whose heartwarming smile at the Notun Kuri Sports 2025–26 closing ceremony touched millions despite the grief of losing his elder sister in last year's Milestone School fighter jet crash.

The meeting came after the prime minister learned the heartbreaking story behind the widely shared photograph of Tahsin smiling and stretching out both hands towards him during the event at Bangladesh Army Stadium on 27 July.

Tahsin lost his elder sister, Tasnia, in the fighter jet crash at Milestone School in Uttara in July 2025.

Although both siblings studied at the same school, they were in separate buildings when the aircraft crashed into Tasnia's building. Hearing the explosion, Tahsin rushed to look for his sister. After being told saline and water were needed, he stood waiting with bottles in his hands, hoping to help her. She, however, did not survive.

According to his family, the tragedy left a lasting impact on the boy. During a healing session, he wrote, "I am in great pain. I lost my beloved sister. She died. I miss her very much. She was my best friend."

His family said Tahsin had rarely smiled with the same innocence since the loss.

After learning about the boy's personal tragedy, the prime minister directed his Additional Press Secretary Atikur Rahman Ruman to contact Tahsin and his family and invite them to the Prime Minister's Office.

As part of that initiative, Tahsin, now a seventh-grade student, met the prime minister on Wednesday along with his father, Nazmul Haque. The family also has a younger daughter who is in nursery.

During the meeting, the prime minister enquired about Tahsin's studies and asked what he wanted to become in the future.

Tahsin said he hoped to become a successful businessman and also wanted to do something that would benefit people and inspire others.

The prime minister praised his ambition and advised him to remain dedicated to his studies, play sports regularly and work hard to achieve his goals.

Tahsin also told the prime minister that football was his favourite sport.

The prime minister presented him with a signed basketball and a drone set as gifts.

Speaking after the meeting, Tahsin said he was overjoyed to have met the prime minister and had never imagined he would receive such an opportunity.

He described the meeting as a complete surprise and said he was eager to return to school and tell his friends about the experience.

Tahsin said the prime minister spoke to him like a member of the family, which made him feel completely at ease. He also toured the Prime Minister's Office and said he was particularly impressed by the model cars and ships displayed there. He also took a selfie with the prime minister using his father's mobile phone.

The prime minister expressed his deep condolences and sympathy to Tahsin's father over the loss of his daughter in the Milestone School fighter jet crash.

Among those present at the meeting were Additional Press Secretary Atikur Rahman Ruman, Private Secretary-2 Md Mehedul Islam, Assistant Private Secretary-2 Abdur Rahman Sani, Associate Professor (Orthopaedics) Dr Shah Muhammad Aman Ullah, Deputy Press Secretary-1 Zahidul Islam Rony, and member secretary of Amra BNP Poribar Moksedul Momin Mithun.