Bodies of Naldanga's Shamim and Sabbir, killed in Saudi Arabia factory fire, reach home, burial in the afternoon

The bodies of Shamim Hossain and Sabbir Ahmed of Naldanga upazila in Natore, killed in a devastating fire at a sofa-making factory in Saudi Arabia, have returned home. After a long wait and identification through DNA testing, the two bodies were handed over to their families in Dhaka on Saturday morning, October 31.

Shamim Hossain was the son of Zakir Hossain of Dighirpar village in Naldanga upazila. Sabbir Ahmed, 30, was the son of Golam Rabbani of the same area. After completing legal procedures on Saturday, relatives set off for their villages with the bodies.

Preparations are under way in the villages for the burials. Relatives have already completed grave digging and other necessary preparations, and local people are preparing for the janaza and burial.

Naldanga Upazila Nirbahi Officer (UNO) Shammi Akter said three people from Naldanga were killed in the fire in Saudi Arabia. Among them, Rabiul Islam's body arrived in the first phase. The bodies of the other two, Shamim and Sabbir, were brought home on Saturday.

The UNO said their burials were scheduled to be completed in their own villages at around 4pm. Assistant Commissioner (Land) Md Shamim Hossain would be present on behalf of the upazila administration at the burials, and the administration would bear the cost of the final journey.

Family sources said the bodies of Shamim and Sabbir were so badly burned in the fire that identification by fingerprints or through the normal process was not possible. Their identities were later confirmed through DNA sample tests of relatives.

Shamim's mother Shahinur Begum said in a tearful voice that her son's body was burned so badly that there was no way to recognise it. The identity was confirmed after his father Zakir Hossain gave a DNA sample. At last, her son's body has come home.

Shamim's wife Mitu Khatun said Shamim had last seen his daughter's face on a video call the day before his death. Their daughter Chafa Jannat is now only two months old. Shamim had named his daughter while abroad and used to see her on video calls at least twice a day. He had also sent money for his daughter's aqiqah.

Sabbir's father Golam Rabbani said his son went to Saudi Arabia about four and a half years ago. His son was married over the mobile phone while he was abroad. Sabbir was supposed to return home next Eid, after which his daughter-in-law would be formally brought home.

He said his daughter-in-law has come to the house for the first time, yet she could not see her husband. She is now waiting for her husband's body. He said all the family's dreams stopped with the news of his son's death in the fire.

A total of 16 Bangladeshis were killed in the fire at that sofa-making factory in Saudi Arabia. Three of them were residents of Naldanga upazila in Natore. Rabiul Islam's body was among those that arrived in the first phase on August 27. After identification through DNA tests, the bodies of Shamim and Sabbir were brought home in the second phase on Saturday.