Kolkata Fire: Bodies of Six Bangladeshi Citizens Repatriated

Six of the seven Bangladeshi citizens who perished in a devastating hotel fire in Kolkata, India, were returned home on Saturday via various land ports. In Kolkata’s New Market area, a residential hotel on Mirza Ghalib Street suddenly caught fire, killing the victims. The official news was verified by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Public Relations Officer, Md. Kamrul Islam Bhuiyan, who also expressed the ministry’s great regret and sent heartfelt condolences to the bereaved families during this difficult period.

The Bangladesh Deputy High Commission in Kolkata worked closely with Indian local authorities to properly arrange corpse transfers and finish the required legal processes. At the Bhomra-Ghojadanga border in the morning, S.M. Alimuzzaman Saju’s body was formally turned over in front of BSF and BGB authorities. By the afternoon, the remains of journalist Debashish Datta, his wife Afsana Sharmin, son Swarnashish Datta, father-in-law Md. Akram Ali, and Babu Ahmed, a resident of Dhaka, were returned via the Petrapole-Benapole border.

The members of journalist Debashish Datta’s multifaith family were buried in Kushtia in accordance with their different religious traditions and rituals. Debashish, who had first come to Kolkata for his wife’s medical care, was cremated in the nearby Kushtia Mahashamshan with his little son Swarnashish. In the meantime, his father-in-law Akram and wife Afsana were buried in accordance with Islamic customs in the Kushtia Municipal Graveyard. Alimuzzaman Saju was buried in his family courtyard in Satkhira after janaza prayers.

Repati Sarkar of Satkhira, the seventh victim, was cremated on Friday night in Kolkata per his family’s express desires. Throughout the procedure, the Bangladesh Deputy High Commission offered ongoing help, including full financial support, appropriate corpse preservation, and preparations for border transfer. Diplomatic representatives made sure that all humanitarian and administrative requirements were satisfied so that the grieving families may quickly and honourably finish their loved ones’ last rituals.