New Delhi: As Prime Minister Narendra Modi landed in Baghdogra of West Bengal for political rallies in Siligudi and Krishna Nagar, he was greeted by Padma Shree awardee Karimul Haque. Haque is also known as ‘Bike Ambulance Dada’. He couldn’t hold back his excitement at meeting the Prime Minister and hugged him, the pictures of which went viral on social media.
West Bengal: Padma awardee Karimul Haque, also known as ‘Bike Ambulance Dada’ met PM Modi upon his arrival at Bagdogra Airport, today
Haque was awarded Padma award for his unique way of social service by ferrying patients to medical facilities on his motorbike in Jalpaiguri Dist pic.twitter.com/nFj8YKCPID
— ANI (@ANI) April 10, 2021
Karimul Haque has created a name for himself with his altruistic and selfless service for the society. He earned the sobriquet of Bike Ambulance Dada as he regularly ferries patients to nearby medical facilities on his motorbike.
In last two decades, Haque has transported thousands of ill people to hospitals/clinics and saved more than 5,500 lives across nearly 20 villages of West Bengal.
PM Modi-Karimul’s first meet in 2018
Karimul Haque had first met PM Modi at the 2018’s ‘At Home’ event in Rashtrapati Bhawan. Haque wanted a selfie with Prime Minister but he faced difficulty in doing so, following which PM Modi obliged him.
Haque had said at that time, ““I wanted a picture with the Prime Minister, but I’m not very handy with the phone. Prime Minister Modi then took the picture from my phone. After that, without any prompting, he enquired about my ambulance service. He then asked me whether the bridge that I had wanted to be built – to cross from our village to several other interior areas – had been constructed. I had told him last year that the bridge would ease our commute. I told him that we were still waiting for it and he promised that it would be done soon.”
Who is the ‘Bike Ambulance Dada’?
Haque lost his mother due to a heart attack nearly thirty years ago. She succumbed due to the lack of ambulance facilities in the village, after which the man swore the he won’t let anyone meet the same fate. Haque now more than 50 years of age, ferries sick people to the hospital on his bike.
Haque in an interview with the Telegraph said, “She (his mother) died at home. I tried my best but could not get an ambulance for her. After her death, I thought about the problem that thousands of people in the remote areas of Malbazar, particularly in forest villages and tea estates, face. I realised many people, particularly the poor, often die for lack of proper treatment.”
The selfless man earns just ₹4,000 per month from his job in a tea estate and offers his services for free. Haque simply puts aside half of his meagre salary for fuel and other bike-related costs and also to repay the bank loan he took to buy a new bike.
