Prime Minister Begum Khaleda Zia yesterday donated a rickshaw to a rick-shawpuller whose vehicle was set on fire in the city on Saturday by hartal activists, reports UNB.

The plight of the rickshawpuller touched the Prime Minister when she read in newspaper that he had gone to the Jatiya Press Club with his burnt rickshaw asking the Journalists how he would get redress.

Begum Zia called Abdul Barek, the rickshawpuller. to her oilice yesterday afternoon and inquired how his rickshaw was burnt.

Barek Informed her that despite repeated appeals, a group of militant pro-hartal activists had set fire on his rickshaw near the Baltui Mnkarram mosque Saturday noon.

He told the Prime Minister that he had bought the rickshaw nearly eight months ago at a cost of Tk 9,500.

"1 had been driving a hired rickshaw since 1993. But 1 saved some money from my daily income to buy a rickshaw of my own," he said. 'My dream was fulfilled after three years when I bought one... But it didn’t last fong."

Barek informed the Prime Minister that his wife, a daughter, father, mother, and four younger brothers and three sisters depended on his income.

After listening to his story, the Prime Minister offered him a few words of consolation as well as a brand new ri< kshaw. Begum Zia also ad-vised him to work hard and take care of his family members.

Overwhelmed with joy. Abdul Barek wished the Prime Minister a long life for her kindness to the distressed.