LAXMIPUR, Mar 15: A gas cylinder explosion at a guesthouse construction site on Digura Island in the Maldives early Friday killed five Bangladeshi workers, including Taj Uddin Islam, 25, from Aladadpur Village in Hajirpara Union, Chandraganj, Laxmipur.
Seven workers were rescued with severe burn injuries, but five later died during treatment. Two others, Jamal Uddin and Saddam Hossain, remain critically injured.
Sajib, as he was known, had told his father, "Father, you won't have to suffer anymore; I will take care of the family," before leaving for the Maldives. The family's hopes were shattered by the fatal accident.
At their home, Sajib's grandfather Abul Kashem sat holding his four-month-old granddaughter, repeatedly fainting after hearing the news. His elderly mother, Tahera Begum, was inconsolable.
Abul Kashem said the family spent nearly Tk 4 lakh to send Sajib abroad, mortgaging land to arrange the money. Sajib had sent home about Tk 1.2 lakh in three months, which helped support the household. "Now my son will never return. I don't know how his wife and child will survive," he said, urging the government to repatriate Sajib's body for a final farewell.
Additional Deputy Commissioner (General) Samrat Khrisa said the administration is monitoring the family and awaiting instructions from the Bangladeshi embassy in the Maldives for repatriation.
Media reports identified the other deceased as Md. Sadar Ali, Md. Robin Molla, Safiqul Islam, and Md. Nur Nabi Sarkar.
The tragedy has left Sajib's family devastated, highlighting the risks faced by migrant workers and the emotional and financial strain on families left behind. Authorities have called for coordinated action to ensure the safe return of the deceased and support for the affected families.
