The Lucky files: From college teacher to ‘overnight’ millionaire

college teacher

In Narsingdi’s Raipura upazila, a veil of silence prevails, driven by fear and perhaps paranoia. No one has seen anything, heard anything, or knows anything about Laila Kanis Lucky.

Lucky, the wife of Matiur Rahman—a former National Board of Revenue official who recently gained attention when his son from his second marriage attempted to buy a goat for Tk15 lakh—has become a controversial figure. Her sudden prominence and the scrutiny of her assets followed the goat purchase incident.

Just two years ago, Laila Kanis was a retired government college teacher, unknown in Raipura’s political arena and uninvolved in any political activities. Today, she is the upazila chairman.

Locals, when they do speak about her, first mention Lucky Park—an eerie, ghost-like amusement park. A visit to Wonder Park, commonly known as Lucky Park, reveals layers of mystery. The entry fee is Tk200, with additional charges for the rides, according to the receptionist, Baten.

The park, however, is eerily deserted, with dust-covered rides and no operators in sight. Couples occasionally enter, only to find silence.

Posing as YouTubers, news reporters tried to gather information from visitors. One child recalled the park’s vibrant past, saying, “Even 3-4 years ago, we used to play here. There was a field, but now it’s gone. The park was renovated, and we lost our field. Now we come daily to hang out.”

Another visitor, Shamim, had just ordered a plate of fuchka. “This is a park for only young couples, you know what I mean,” he said with a sly smile, gesturing to the emptiness around.

Roaming the park, the story of a lake emerges, adding another layer to the enigmatic narrative surrounding Laila Kanis Lucky.

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