The bodies of five of the seven Bangladeshi nationals who died in a devastating hotel fire in Kolkata, India, were repatriated through Benapole border on Saturday.
The coffins were handed over at Petrapole no-man’s land in the presence of India’s Border Security Force (BSF) and Indian Police to the Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB), Benapole Port Police, and Customs authorities.
Following the completion of legal processes and handover formalities, the coffins were delivered to their respective relatives. Four of the victims belonged to the same family from Kushtia.
They have been identified as journalist Debashis Dutta, 39, his wife Afsana Sharmin, 27, their three-year-old child Swornoshish Dutta, and Afsana’s father Md Akram Ali, 64. The fifth body repatriated was that of Babu Ahmed, 37, a cosmetics businessman from Savar.
A heart-wrenching scene unfolded at the border as the silent coffins were handed over, with the air at Petrapole no-man’s land filled with the wails of grieving relatives who had gathered to catch a final glimpse of their loved ones.
The body of SM Alimuzzaman of Satkhira was brought home through the Ghojadanga-Bhomra border in Satkhira in the morning and handed over to his family, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, reports UNB.
However, the body of victim Rebati Sarker was cremated at Kolkata’s Nimtala Mahashmashan (crematorium) following a decision made by relatives residing in India.
Saifur Rahman Khan, officer-in-charge (OC) of Benapole Immigration Police, said after completing all legal formalities in India, the paperwork was processed swiftly upon the coffins’ arrival at Benapole, and they were immediately handed over to the relatives.
The ambulances carrying the coffins have already departed for their respective destinations.
The tragic fire broke out at around 2am on Wednesday at Shikha Inn hotel in the New Market area of Kolkata, claiming the lives of nine people, including seven Bangladeshis and two Indians.
