An ambulance waits with its engine humming and the driver’s seat deserted at Benapole check‑post’s no‑man’s land, while across the border relatives stand with tear‑blurred eyes fixed on the road to Kolkata.
They are waiting to receive their loved ones who had gone to India alive for medical treatment but are now returning confined within wooden boxes.
Journalist Debashish Dutta, who died in the blaze, had travelled to Kolkata with his ailing wife Afsana Sharmin, their three‑year‑old son Swarnashish Dutta, and elderly father‑in‑law Md Akram Ali for medical treatment. All four died in the fire. Their bodies are being brought home.
Family sources said Debashish and his son will be cremated, while Afsana and Akram will be buried beside them.
The other Bangladeshi victims were Babu Ahmed, a cosmetics trader from Savar; SM Alimuzzaman Saju of Kaliganj, Satkhira; and Rebati Sarker of the same district.
Rebati’s body will not be repatriated. A relative said the funeral will be completed at Nimtala crematorium in India, where family members will arrange the rites.
Benapole Immigration Police Officer‑in‑Charge Saifur Rahman Khan said the bodies may enter Bangladesh through Benapole Land Port by Saturday afternoon. After formalities, they will be handed over to relatives.
Ruhul Amin, deputy director (traffic) of the port, said the coffins were expected in the morning but were delayed due to proceedings.
On 19 August, a devastating fire at the Shikha Inn hotel in Kolkata’s New Market area killed nine people, including seven Bangladeshis and two Indians. After lengthy formalities and paperwork in Kolkata, the coffin‑bearing vehicles set off for the border and are expected to reach Bangladesh by noon.
