Honest Cabbie
February 9th, 2007 Posted in Society, USAPicture this scenario:
On realizing that she has lost her bag of diamonds worth $500,000, an agitated woman called NYPD (New York Police Department) to inform them about the same. She thinks that the bag was most probably left in the cab she took on her way back home. After getting description of the driver as a middle-aged South Asian man, the police was finally able to track him down with the diamonds. The driver denies any wrong-doing and claims innocence. In a related development, a right-wing radio talk show host lambasted the driver in particular and reiterated his support for tougher immigrations laws.
Now read this:
A Bangladeshi immigrant taxi driver in New York is the toast of the Big Apple after returning a $500,000 lost bag of diamond rings to their rightful owner.
Osman Chowdhury’s honesty has made him an instant celebrity, propelling him onto the city’s airwaves to receive the plaudits of the great and the good.
He says that he is proud of what he did, because cab drivers are honest.
Forty-one-year-old Mr Chowdhury - a Bangladeshi green card holder - was plying his trade as usual in Manhattan on Monday evening, when a female passenger boarded his cab at a midtown Hotel.
The passenger got off at an apartment building on 35th street.
She paid $11 for the $10.70 fare. But she left a bag full of diamonds in the boot of the vehicle.
When the next set of passengers tried to put their luggage in the boot, Mr Chowdhury found the bag.
But with the help of the New York City Taxi Workers’ Alliance, a cabbies’ advocacy group, the bag was opened to reveal around 30 diamond rings, neatly tucked into cases.
and this:
For the last two days he has also been interviewed by scores of news organisations in the US and across the globe.
In addition, the New York City Taxi and Limousine Commission has honoured him with an Achievement Award for 2007. Even the City Council of New York City has joined in, by given him a citation praising his honesty.
Life is beautiful.
More here.
