Ziaul Haque is busy selling curd after winning Ekushey Padak

News started spreading on social media from Tuesday night. Villagers, relatives and well-wishers are rejoicing as Ziaul Haque has been nominated for Ekushey Padak. Since Wednesday morning, well-wishers thronged her house with flower bouquets to congratulate her. But 90-year-old Ziaul Haque went out to sell yogurt to make a living.

Ziaul Haque, nominated for this year's Ekushey Padak for social service, is a resident of Mushribhuja Battala village in Bholahat Upazila of Chapainawabganj. He sells yogurt by ferry. After running the family with that income, he bought books with the surplus money and distributed them to poor students. The nomination of Ziaul Haque was revealed in the letter of consent sent by the Ministry of Culture last Tuesday afternoon.

Yesterday morning Musribhuja went to Battala village and it was learned that Ziaul Haque had gone to sell curd in nearby Gomstapur Upazila Sadar Rahanpur station market. The house was crowded with well-wishers. After a long wait, Ziaul Haque was seen sitting in front of a medicine shop selling curd at Rahanpur station market around 11:30 pm.

At that time, Ziaul Haque said, "I went out at seven in the morning with curd and milk." Because there was no money to buy and market rice. I never imagined that I would be nominated for such a big award. At the end of my life, I got recognition for my work. I will have peace even if I die now. I can't express the joy I got in words.

Customers who came to buy curd on the roadside were also congratulating Ziaul Haque and taking selfies with him. Nasir Uddin (47) of Prasadpur Madrasapara has been seeing Ziaul Haque carrying a curd on his head and selling curd by bicycle. Referring to the reputation of his curd, Nasir Uddin said, "After running the family by selling curd, he used the surplus money to buy books and distribute them among the poor students. He built a common library in his name at home. Not only that, many of the poor and helpless women have been sent home. Tube wells have been installed in villages. They have been helping the needy people with food and clothes since many years. He has a wide reputation in the entire district as a person who is fond of education with a white mind.