SATKHIRA, May 14: Three expatriates from Satkhira- Shafiqul Islam, Nahidul Islam, and Shuvo Kumar Das lost their lives in Israeli drone strikes in southern Lebanon on Monday.
Shafiqul Islam, 38, and Nahidul Islam, 22, were killed in Israeli drone strikes in Zebdine Village, located in the Nabatieh region of Lebanon. Shuvo Kumar Das, 28, was killed in the Maifadun area.
In the quiet village of Bhaluka Chandpur, situated 14 kilometres from Satkhira town under Dhulihor Union, the air is heavy with the sound of mourning. The source of this grief is the home of Shafiqul Islam, and 22 kilometres away in Kadakati Village of Assasuni Upazila, a similar scene of devastation is found as relatives wail for young Nahidul Islam.
Driven by poverty and hope of a better future, these two "remittance warriors" had moved abroad only weeks ago, carrying the weight of massive debts and the dreams of their families. They were working at a fruit shop when the attack occurred. On Tuesday, the news of their deaths has cast a stony silence.
At Shafiqul's home, the cries of his two daughters are unbearable. His wife, Ruma Khatun, appears shell-shocked, drifting between unconsciousness and agonising laments. "Why did you leave us alone? What will happen to our daughters? To whom will they turn now?" she cried out upon regaining consciousness.
Ruma shared that Shafiqul went abroad after taking a loan of Tk 10 lakh which has now ballooned to Tk 12 lakh with interest.
Their eldest daughter, Tamanna Akter Mou, a first-year HSC student, keeps collapsing in grief. "Father promised to send new clothes for Eid. Why is his body coming instead? Her younger sister, Tonni Akter Brishti, an eighth-grader, sits beside her in silent devastation. Neighbour and local teacher Al Kalam Abu Wahid noted that Shafiqul, who left on the 20th of Ramadan, was the sole beacon of hope for the family.
According to sources from the Bangladesh Embassy in Beirut, the incident occurred on Monday noon (local time). Israeli forces launched an unexpected drone strike on a residential building in Zebdine, Nabatieh. Shafiqul Islam and Nahidul Islam were inside the building and were buried under the rubble when it collapsed. Both died on the spot, along with a Syrian national.
This was the second attack in the area within hours; shortly before, a drone strike on a bread delivery van had killed two local residents. The bodies of the two Bangladeshis are currently being kept at the Nabih Berri Hospital in Nabatieh.
In Kadakati Village, the family of Nahidul Islam is equally shattered. The 22-year-old, the eldest of two siblings, was desperate to take over the family's financial responsibilities. His mother repeatedly faints, whispering, "Son, you said you were fine and would send money soon.
Why are you coming back as a corpse?" His father, Abdul Kader, sits in silence, tears streaming down his face, paralysed by the thought of the high-interest loans taken to send Nahid abroad.
Satkhira Sadar Upazila Nirbahi Officer (UNO) Arnab Dutta stated that the administration is in contact with the bereaved families and necessary government steps are being taken to repatriate the bodies.
The deceased Shuvo Das was the son of Suranjan Das of Sripratipur Village in Kalaroa Upazila. The deceased's family confirmed the death to the media on Tuesday night.
According to family sources, Shuvo had been working as a house and garden caretaker in Lebanon for about three years. The family was running on his income.
Deputy Commissioner Kawsar Aziz told the media on Wednesday afternoon that three expats from the district died in the ongoing violence in Lebanon.
Their families have been asked to apply to the local UNO office for assistance. After that, the Ministry of Expatriates' Welfare and Overseas Employment will provide financial assistance to the families and make all arrangements to bring the bodies back home.
