1 hour(s) agoBANGLADESH
SSaurav Hossain Siam
Saurav Hossain Siam
The morning began with unimaginable grief for several families in Krokerchar village under Narayanganj — their sleep shattered by the news that loved ones had died in a fire at a supershop in South Africa.
Among the victims was 28-year-old Fahim, who had spent the last decade working at the shop in Queenstown in South Africa’s eastern region. He had been planning to return home later this year after completing the necessary paperwork.
Fahim, from the village under Alirtek union in Narayanganj Sadar upazila, was one of six people killed in the blaze.
Three of the victims were from the same village.
Visiting the bereaved family, this correspondent found scenes of profound mourning.
Fahim’s mother, Lutfunnesa, his two sisters, Munmon and Mim, and his twin brothers, Zahid and Nahid, wept inconsolably after waking up to the news of his death.
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Relatives gathered around him, urging him to cry and ease his grief, but he remained motionless. Photo: Star
In a separate room sat his father, Monir Hossain, in complete silence.
Having lost his eldest son, Monir finally spoke in a broken voice.
“I have nothing to say. I woke up hearing the news of my son’s death. What more can I say?”
He then fell silent again.
Relatives gathered around him, urging him to cry and ease his grief, but he remained motionless.
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Three of the victims were from the same village. Photo: Star
Fahim’s cousin, Al-Amin, said Fahim had been supervising workers at the supershop.
“He was supposed to return home within a few months after getting his documents ready. He supported the entire family. He wanted to come back and get married,” he said.
The same fire also claimed the life of 20-year-old Apon, who had moved to South Africa four years ago.
His mother, Akhi Begum, repeatedly fainted, lying on the floor of their under-construction house. “Bring my son back to me,” she wailed.
Apon’s elder brother, Jewel, an expatriate in Saudi Arabia, said his younger brother had dreamt of completing their family home and living there with their parents.
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Bereaved families are in profound mourning. Photo: Star
“The house is being built, but his dream remains unfulfilled. We heard the bodies were burned to ashes. If only we could bring back even the ashes… we could at least give him a proper burial,” he said, breaking down in tears.
Another bereaved family was mourning 55-year-old Nur Mohammad.
Relatives said he had moved to South Africa in 2019 after spending several years working in Singapore. With his earnings, he had married off his two daughters, while his younger son is currently sitting for the HSC examinations.
His niece, Fima, said he had been preparing to return home.
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“Just the day before, he went out to process his documents. He spent most of his life abroad,” she said.
The fire also killed Faisal, 26, from Toilkhirarchar village; Shahin, 26, from Kanainagar village in neighbouring Baktaboli union; and Razik, 55, from Kalindipara in Munshiganj.
