PM meets Tahsin whose viral smile hid a story of loss

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

The Prime Minister invited Tahsin and his father, Nazmul Haque, to the Prime Minister's Office at the Secretariat after learning the heartbreaking story behind the widely shared photograph of the smiling boy on social media.

The image, taken during the closing ceremony of Notun Kuri Sports 2025-26 at the Bangladesh Army Stadium on July 27, quickly 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, said a release issued by the PM’s Press Wing.

Behind that smile, however, lay the grief of losing his elder sister, Tasnia, in the tragic Bangladesh Air Force fighter jet crash at Milestone School in Uttara in July 2025.

Although the siblings studied at the same school, they were in separate buildings on the day of the accident. Tahsin, then a sixth-grader, rushed to search for his sister after hearing the explosion and even stood carrying saline and water after being told they were needed for the injured. Tasnia, an eighth-grade student, never returned.

According to his family, Tahsin rarely smiled after the tragedy. During a healing session, he wrote: "I am in great pain. I lost my beloved sister. She was my best friend. I miss her so much."

When the Prime Minister later learned about Tahsin's story, he instructed his Additional Press Secretary Atikur Rahman Rumon to contact the boy and his family.

During Wednesday's meeting, Tarique Rahman asked Tahsin about his studies and future ambitions.

Now a seventh-grade student, Tahsin told the Prime Minister that he dreams of becoming a successful businessman and wants to create something that benefits people and attracts their interest.

The Prime Minister praised his aspirations and encouraged him to study attentively, continue sports activities regularly and pursue his dreams with dedication and perseverance.

During their conversation, Tahsin said football is his favourite sport. The Prime Minister presented him with a football bearing his autograph along with a special gift.

After the meeting, an excited Tahsin said he never imagined he would have the opportunity to meet the Prime Minister, describing the entire experience as a complete surprise.

He said he is eager to return to school and share the experience with his friends.

Tahsin also said the Prime Minister spoke to him like a member of the family, which made him feel completely at ease.

He said he was also fascinated by the model cars and ships displayed in the Prime Minister's Office and even took selfies using his father's mobile phone.

Prime Minister Tarique Rahman also expressed his deep sympathy and condolences to Tahsin's father over the loss of his daughter in the Milestone School tragedy.

PM’s Additional Press Secretary Atikur Rahman Rumon, 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 Amra BNP Poribar Member Secretary Moksedul Momin Mithun were present during the meeting.