A tragic accident in Barguna has left a small community in Shibchar, Madaripur in deep mourning. On Saturday, June 22, a microbus carrying several family members plunged into a canal after a bridge collapse, resulting in the deaths of nine people, seven of whom were from the same family. As the bodies were brought back to their homes late Saturday night, the grief-stricken families began preparations for their loved ones' burials.
Madaripur June 23 - The bodies of 7 family members from the same family in Shibchar, Madaripur, who died in a microbus accident after a bridge collapse in Barguna, arrived home late Saturday night (June 22). Preparations for the burial of the deceased began at their homes on Sunday morning (June 23).
The accident claimed the lives of Farida Begum, the wife of the late Fazlur Rahman Khan, Raiti Akhtar (30), the wife of her younger son, and Rumi Begum (40), her mother. Additionally, Munni Begum (40), the wife of Abul Kalam Azad from Krokchar, a nearby area of the same upazila, and his two daughters, Tahiya (7) and Tasdiya (11), as well as Fatema Akhtar (40), the wife of Babul Matubbar, died at the scene.
Since on Sunday morning, preparations for the burial have been underway in Shibchar’s Bhadrashan Sahapara village, Krokchar, and Umedpur, including digging graves and other necessary tasks.
They were supposed to return home on Sunday with the joy of a wedding celebration. Instead, they returned as corpses, wrapped in shrouds of grief.
When the bodies arrived home at night, a wave of mourning swept over the area. Abul Kalam Azad, who lost his wife and two young daughters, was nearly inconsolable, as were other family members. Elsewhere, the home of Sohel Khan, who lost his wife and mother-in-law and who leaves behind a nine-month-old baby, was filled with cries of anguish. Sohel Khan’s mother also died in the same accident.
Locals reported that there is no one to provide consolation. Every affected family is engulfed in mourning and wailing. A local youth named Md. Masum said, "There is mourning in three houses. There is no one to offer comfort. Neighbors have been coming since morning. Graves are being dug. The deaths of so many people from the same family have shocked the entire community. A shadow of grief has descended over the entire village."
He added, "After the funeral prayer at ten in the morning, the bodies will be buried in their respective cemeteries. Another local, Md. Dulal, mentioned that Sohel Khan's mother, wife, and mother-in-law died in the accident. It's hard to bear so much grief! He has to run from his mother's body to his wife and mother-in-law's bodies. His nine-month-old baby survives. The child lost its mother, grandmother, and maternal grandmother. There is no one left to care for the child except the father. The entire house feels lifeless."
Disha, the wife of former army member Mahbub Khan Sobuj and the daughter-in-law of the late Fazlur Rahman Khan, who was injured in the accident, said, "After the bridge collapsed and the microbus fell into the canal, we broke the window glass to get out. Even though we shouted, the driver did not unlock the door. The driver got out himself but did not unlock the door!"
Sohel Khan, Mahbub's younger brother, said, "My wife and mother-in-law have died. I managed to save my child but could not save my wife. Everything is lost for us."
Shibchar Upazila Nirbahi Officer (UNO) Abdullah Al Mamun said, "It’s a very tragic incident. We have taken notice. We express our deepest condolences to the families of the deceased."
It should be noted that on Saturday afternoon, while heading to the groom’s house in Amtali municipality of Barguna for a wedding reception, the iron bridge over the Haldiya-Chaora canal collapsed, and the microbus fell into the water. The accident claimed the lives of nine people, including seven from the same family, all residents of Shibchar upazila in Madaripur.
END/V7N/SRM/DK
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