Six Bangladeshi nationals died in a devastating fire. The fire occurred at a superstore in Queenstown, South Africa. This city is in the Eastern Cape Province. The tragic news has brought immense sadness to their relatives in Bangladesh.
Five of the victims were residents of Narayanganj Sadar upazila. The sixth victim was from Munshiganj district. Their families are now filled with deep grief and sorrow.
The deceased from Narayanganj include Md Fahim, 29, and Md Apon, 23. Both were from Koker Char area in Alirtek Union. Nur Mohammad, 55, also died. Md Faisal, 26, from Tailkhir’s Char area, and Md Shahin, 30, from Kanainagar area, also lost their lives.
Md Rajik, 55, was from Kalindipara area in Munshiganj district. Relatives in Bangladesh received the news from other Bangladeshis living in South Africa. The fire started early Tuesday morning, local time. It broke out in a superstore located in a labour area.
The Bangladeshi workers inside could not escape. They died in the fire.
Fahim went to South Africa about 11 years ago. He sought work there to improve his family’s financial situation. He had been working there for a long time. The sudden news of his death has made his family very sad. His father, Monir Hossain, is heartbroken.
Fahim was the only one earning money for his household. Md Sajib, Fahim’s brother-in-law, said the family is deep in mourning.
Md Apon went to South Africa four years ago. He was the second of two brothers and one sister. His father, Ali Mia, runs a local tea shop. His mother, Aklima Begum, is a housewife. Apon’s elder brother, Jewel, works in Saudi Arabia. The news of Apon’s death has caused great pain to his family.
Russel, Apon’s maternal uncle, expressed his sorrow. He said, “Apon went abroad to build a better life for our family. We never imagined he would return as a body.”
Relatives are working to bring the bodies back to Bangladesh. They are also trying to find out the cause of the fire. They are staying in contact with local officials in South Africa.
SM Faiz Uddin is the Upazila Nirbahi Officer (UNO) of Narayanganj Sadar Upazila. He confirmed that six Bangladeshis died in the fire. He stated that five were from Narayanganj and one was from Munshiganj. Mr. Uddin is visiting the homes of the deceased in Narayanganj. He is gathering more information from the grieving families.
