A final phone call to his wife from Riyadh was the last contact Shahed Ahmed Ashik, an expatriate from Bogura, had with his family before he was reportedly killed in a missile strike at King Khalid International Airport in Saudi Arabia on Saturday.
His death has left his wife, two young sons and other family members devastated.
Shahed, 35, was the son of Rafiqul Islam Mithu of Madla area in Shajahanpur upazila of Bogura.
Shajahanpur Upazila Nirbahi Officer (UNO) Md Taifur Rahman confirmed the death on Sunday evening, citing information from the Ministry of Expatriates’ Welfare and Overseas Employment.
According to the ministry, a missile struck the Terminal 3 area of King Khalid International Airport at around 3:20pm on Saturday. Two Bangladeshi nationals were killed in the incident, including Shahed.
Family members said Shahed had been living in Saudi Arabia for three years. His father also lives in the country, while his mother, Shahera Akter, had travelled there to perform Umrah.
Shahed’s brother, Masum Rana, said he had left Bangladesh for Saudi Arabia at around 7pm on Friday after spending nearly a month on leave. Shahed was scheduled to travel to his workplace in Jeddah via Riyadh.
According to Masum, Shahed spoke to his wife after arriving in Riyadh and told her he had reached the city. He said the journey to Jeddah would take another one and a half hours and promised to call again after reaching his destination.
However, the family could not contact him after that conversation, leaving them increasingly worried about his whereabouts.
Masum urged the government to provide accurate information about his brother’s death and arrange the necessary assistance for the family.
‘We will have no way to survive’
Shahed’s wife, Kakoli Begum, said she had yet to receive direct confirmation of her husband’s condition from her in-laws in Saudi Arabia, despite reports of his death.
She said Shahed had initially returned home on a two-month leave but decided to return to Saudi Arabia after only one month because of reports of conflict in the region and concerns about retaining his job.
“If my husband has really died, we will have no way to survive,” she said, adding that he was the sole breadwinner of the family.
Shahed is survived by his wife and two sons, aged nine and four.
Madla Union Parishad Chairman Atikur Rahman said that although they had not received formal written confirmation, they had learned of Shahed’s death through the upazila administration.
He said Shahed had been expected to meet his mother in Saudi Arabia, where she had travelled to perform Umrah, but the planned reunion never took place.
The union parishad chairman appealed to Prime Minister Tarique Rahman to take humanitarian steps to support the bereaved family and ensure the welfare of Shahed’s two children.
UNO Md Taifur Rahman said the authorities had confirmed Shahed’s death through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Bangladesh Embassy in Saudi Arabia, although no official letter had yet been received.
He added that he had already met the family and that the remaining legal procedures were underway.
Earlier reports citing international media said a total of 12 people, including Bangladeshis, had been killed in the Houthi attack at Riyadh airport.
