Shampi Chakraborty Purkayastha

Tollywood star Dev's 50th film on the life of Karimul Haque, who dedicated his life to rushing the sick persons to the hospital in his makeshift bike ambulance in the North Bengal areas, is all set for release in August.

The upcoming film came into focus when Dev visited  Karimul Haque in the hospital, where he was receiving treatment for his heart ailment.

Bike Ambulance Dada is a Bengali biopic starring Tollywood superstar Dev as real-life hero Karimul Haque, the Padma Shri awardee known for using his motorcycle as an ambulance to save lives in rural Bengal.

The film is directed by Vinay Mudgil.

Dev with Karimul Haque in hospital

On hearing about Karimul Haque’s health issues and hospitalisation, Dev rushed to a private hospital in Kolkata and met the extraordinary man whose character he would play in the film.

The conversation between the real life and the reel hero was recorded and posted on social media. It made people remember the selfless services of a man who dedicated his life to serving the sick and rushing them to hospitals in his makeshift ambulance for decades.

Karimul Haque’s story begins in the tea gardens of West Bengal. In 1995, Haque desperately sought the help of people for his ailing mother, who needed to be shifted to a medical facility urgently.

He could not get an ambulance to shift her well in time, and she died waiting for treatment.

The tragedy made him take a pledge that he would work towards ensuring that no one ever died for want of being taken to a hospital.

Haque's motorbike ambulance plan came to him when one of his colleagues collapsed in the field. Since a regular ambulance could not reach him in time, Haque tied him to his back and made him ride a pillion to the nearest hospital. His co-worker recovered from the illness, inspiring Haque to continue with this approach.

He has been providing ambulance coverage to over 20 villages in and around Dhalabari in the  Dooars belt for three decades, where roads and electricity are yet to reach the public. The nearest hospital for the locals is 45 kilometres away.

As of 2019, he had ferried approximately 5,000 to 5,500 people free of cost.

Haque lives in Rajadanga in Malbazar with his wife Anjuya Begum, his two sons Rajesh and Raju and their wives. The bulk of his family’s savings goes into providing free treatment to the sick.

Karimul Haque is currently undergoing treatment for heart disease. He has a pacemaker in his chest. According to doctors, he is now completely healthy. Dey shared a photo of himself in the hospital on social media and wrote, "Get well soon, brother. A real bike ambulance brother. Dev's post went viral instantly and has created a new stir in people's minds. 

Karimul Haque, who comes from a remote village in Jalpaiguri district of North Bengal, is today a living symbol of human service. In remote rural areas where no government or private ambulance is available, Karimul Haque's motorbike becomes the last refuge of everyone.

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He has converted his bike into an ambulance and runs to patients day and night, in storm, rain or extreme cold. His sole purpose in life is to save human lives without any expectation of remuneration or recognition.