Grandfather fulfils a 23-year promise

BOGURA, Apr 25: A family ceremony in northern Bangladesh has drawn widespread attention after a grandfather fulfilled a 23-year-old promise by gifting coins equal to his granddaughter's weight at her wedding.

At the ceremony held at his home in the Thanthania area of Bogura town on Friday (March 27), bride Naima Khatun was seated on one side of a traditional weighing scale while approximately 70.3 kilogrammes of coins were placed on the other.

Most of the coins were of five taka denomination. A video footage of the event has since gone viral on the social media.

According to family members, the pledge dates back to Naima's birth, when her grandmother, Pata Begum, expressed a wish to gift coins matching her granddaughter's weight at her wedding.

Abdul Kader Pramanik, the grandfather, agreed and the couple began saving small amounts of coins in earthen banks over the years.

However, Pata Begum died around two years ago, leaving the promise unfulfilled.

Even at the time of Naima's wedding, the family had not accumulated enough coins to meet the pledge.

This year, following news of Naima's pregnancy, Abdul Kader decided not to delay further and proceeded to fulfill his late wife's wish.

A driver by profession, Abdul Kader said he had spent more than two decades collecting the coins gradually.

"It is not about the monetary value, but about keeping a promise," he said, adding that his wife would have been the happiest to witness the moment.

Naima Khatun said she was deeply moved by the gesture, describing it as a reflection of her grandmother's long-held wish and her grandfather's enduring commitment.

The programme created a festive atmosphere at the home, with around 150 guests, including relatives and neighbours, attending the celebration.

Local residents said that despite limited financial means, the act stands out as a rare example of long-term commitment and familial devotion.

For many who attended the function the symbolised not just a gift, but a powerful expression of memory, promise and intergenerational love.

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