The last rites and burial of Kushtia journalist Debashish Dutta, his wife Afsana Sharmin, their three‑year‑old son Swarnashish Dutta, and father‑in‑law Akram Hossain — all killed in a Kolkata hotel fire — have been completed.
The four bodies reached Kushtia on Saturday night, when relatives, colleagues and locals gathered in Aruapara in grief.
Around 10:30pm, family members broke down in tears when the coffins arrived at Debashish’s home. Due to the large crowd, religious rituals were conducted at Aruapara Tarun Sangha Pathagar Club grounds.
In line with family decisions, separate religious rites were observed. Around 1am, Debashish and his son Swarnashish were cremated at the Kushtia Central Crematorium.
Funeral prayers for Afsana and her father Akram were held at Kushtia Model Mosque around 2:30am, followed by burial at Kushtia Municipal Graveyard around 3:30am.
Colleagues, fellow journalists and people from different walks of life attended the final farewell. Many wept upon seeing the coffins.
The most heartbreaking scene was the crying of Debashish’s daughter Pakhi, who had been waiting for her parents’ return with toys, chocolates and new clothes — only to see the bodies of her parents, brother and grandfather.
Debashish and Afsana married for love about 11 years ago. Debashish was Hindu, Afsana Muslim, and they maintained their respective faiths and traditions in family life.
Zohurul Islam, Kushtia district correspondent of Star News, said, “Even if my own relatives had died, I might not have felt such pain. Debashish was the only earning member of his family. What will happen to them now?”
Abdur Razzak Bachchu, president of Kushtia Journalists’ Union, said, “The loss of four members of one family is not only irreparable for their relatives but for all the people of Kushtia.”
He urged support for the bereaved family.
Kushtia Sadar Upazila Nirbahi Officer Harun‑or‑Rashid said the district administration has provided Tk100,000 in assistance to the families of Debashish and another victim.
Family said Debashish had travelled to India with his wife and children on 3 August. After treatment at Narayana Hospital in Bengaluru, they reached Kolkata on 18 August and checked into a residential hotel on Mirza Ghalib Street in New Market.
They were due to return to Bangladesh on 19 August, but all four died in the fire before their departure.
