4 Bangladeshi brothers die inside car; police suspect carbon monoxide

Police in Oman have launched an investigation into the tragic deaths of four expatriate brothers from Bangladesh, who were found dead inside a vehicle in the Al-Masnah area of South Al Batinah Governorate. 

The Royal Oman Police, cited by the Times of Oman, discovered the bodies on Wednesday night and believe the deaths were caused by accidental carbon monoxide poisoning.

The deceased have been identified as Rashedul Islam, Sahedul Islam, Mohammad Siraj, and Mohammad Shahid. They were the sons of the late Mohammad Hasan from Rangunia upazila in Chattogram. 

According to their youngest brother, Enam, two of the siblings, Siraj and Shahid, were scheduled to return to Bangladesh on May 15 and had gone out together to shop for their upcoming trip.

Local expatriates reported that the brothers were traveling from Barka to Muladdah when they fell ill. One of the brothers reportedly sent a voice message and their location to a relative at approximately 8:00 PM, stating they felt unwell and were physically unable to exit the vehicle. 

Bystanders later spotted the four men unconscious in the car parked in front of a clinic and alerted the authorities.

Mohammad Yasin Chowdhury, President of the Chittagong Association in Oman, noted that the victims were between 25 and 35 years old. Although they lived in different parts of Oman--including Nizwa, Suwaiq, and Muladdah-- they had reunited for the shopping trip. 

Initial findings suggest they inhaled toxic exhaust fumes that leaked into the cabin while the engine was running.

Following the incident, the Royal Oman Police issued a public safety advisory warning against sleeping in enclosed vehicles with the engine running. 

They emphasized the extreme risk of suffocation from odorless carbon monoxide gas and urged drivers to avoid operating vehicles or resting inside them if feeling fatigued or unwell.