Md Nafis Tehami dreamed of travelling the world, exploring new places and living life on his own terms. Having recently completed his final-year university examinations, the 26-year-old was looking forward to a future full of new experiences. He and a close friend also planned to form a band.
His cousin, Laila Jahan Nabila, 27, had a different ambition. A chemistry student at Jagannath University, she wanted to build a career in research and development in the pharmaceutical industry. Just days before her death, she had won the Best Poster Presentation Award at an international conference hosted by North South University. Her final research defence and postgraduate results were still ahead of her.
Neither would get the chance to fulfil those dreams.
Tehami and Nabila, along with Nabila’s sister, Maliha, died in a fire at TupTup Resort near Patuartek beach in Ukhiya, Cox’s Bazar, on Saturday. The cousins had checked into the resort on Thursday.
Tehami’s father, Ziadul Kabir, was also inconsolable. “We have no one left. What do we have to live for now?” he said through tears.
“What is the point of living now? How am I supposed to go on? Everything is over for me,” said Tehami’s mother Kajal Rekha.
The deaths devastated their family, with the loss of three young relatives leaving loved ones struggling to come to terms with the tragedy.
MA Munim Sagar, a close friend of Tehami, said his friend had never wanted to confine himself to a conventional way of life. “He wanted to see the world up close, travel to new places and live life on his own terms,” Sagar told TIMES.
Music was another part of their shared history. The two friends had planned to form a band, but their different musical tastes had made the process a challenge. Sagar preferred rock, while Tehami was drawn to death metal.
Their contrasting preferences never stood in the way of their friendship. They had grown up together, shared their interests and discussed plans for the future.
Their friendship began at school, where they took part in debates, quizzes and science fairs. Both were associated with the Barguna Debating Council. Sagar studied at Barguna Zilla School, while Tehami represented Amtali AK Pilot School.
Nabila, meanwhile, had been working towards a future shaped by scientific research and a desire to contribute to her country.
The chemistry student had spent the previous year and a half conducting research. Just days before the fire, she received the Best Poster Presentation Award at an international conference hosted by North South University.
The recognition came as she prepared for her final research defence and awaited her postgraduate results. She hoped to establish herself in research and development in Bangladesh’s pharmaceutical sector.
Mohammad Aminul Haque, chairman of Jagannath University’s Department of Chemistry, said Nabila had been a talented and dedicated student with a clear vision for her future.
“Nabila was like our own child. She was a talented, quiet and gentle student. She had been conducting research diligently for the past year and a half. She was so happy. Her final research defence was ahead of her, and she was putting everything in place for a promising career,” he said.
Haque had encouraged her to pursue higher studies and research abroad. But Nabila had wanted to build her career at home.
“I used to tell her that she was talented and should go abroad for advanced research. But Nabila would say, ‘Sir, I want to work for my country. I really want to work in research and development in the pharmaceutical sector here,’” he said.
Her death left him grieving not only for a student but also for the future she had been working so hard to build. “What hurts the most is that we have not yet been able to publish her postgraduate results. Now I wonder, in whose name will we publish them? Just days ago, she was celebrating an award and dreaming of her future. Now she is gone,” he said.
Haque said he believed Nabila had the talent and ability to achieve great things in her career.
Nabila’s mother, Roksana Akter Rina, was overwhelmed by the loss of both her daughters. “My dear Nabila and Maliha are gone. O Allah, why don’t You take us too? Take us with them,” she cried.
For Tehami, the future meant travel, music and the freedom to live life on his own terms. For Nabila, it meant research, discovery and contributing to Bangladesh’s pharmaceutical industry. Maliha, too, was part of a family whose future has now been irrevocably changed.
The three had checked into the resort on 15 October, with their lives still ahead of them. Two days later, the fire ended those journeys, leaving behind grieving families and dreams that would never be fulfilled.
