Relatives Leave With Bodies of Bangladeshi Victims

Relatives of Bangladeshi nationals who died in a fire in Kolkata have begun returning to Bangladesh with their bodies.

Early Saturday, relatives left Kolkata’s Peace World in Park Circus with the body of Alimuzzaman, who was from Satkhira. The body had been kept at the facility in frozen storage. The family left at about 6 a.m. Indian time and completed immigration and border formalities by around 10 a.m. before entering Bangladesh.

Meanwhile, the funeral of Satkhira resident Reboti Sarkar was held late Friday night, according to his family. His last rites were performed at Kolkata’s historic Nimtala crematorium.

At about 12:27 p.m. Saturday, relatives also left Peace World with the bodies of journalist Debashish Dutta of Kushtia and his family members—Akram Ali, 74; Afsana Shirmin, 27; and Sarnashish Dutta, 2—as well as Babu Ahmed, 37, of Savar.

The families were expected to bring the bodies into Bangladesh through the Benapole border later Saturday, subject to completion of the necessary procedures.

Bangladesh Deputy High Commissioner in Kolkata Md. Khaled was present at Peace World as the relatives departed with the bodies. First Secretary (Consular) Md. Zillur Rahman, Second Secretary (Political) Omar Faruk Akand and other embassy officials were also present.