Two friends die while returning from India

Two friends from Gazipur have died in India within a day of each other while returning to Bangladesh after one of them received cancer treatment in Kolkata, and their families are seeking government assistance to bring their bodies home for burial.

Billal Majhi, 50, of Kapaiash village in Kaliganj upazila, died on August 9 after experiencing chest pain while travelling by taxi from Kolkata. His friend Habibur Rahman, 57, who had travelled to India for treatment at Thakurpukur Cancer Hospital in Kolkata, died the following day while staying at the hospital with Billal’s body.

The bodies are currently being kept at Bhangar District Specialized Hospital in West Bengal. The families want to bring the bodies back to Bangladesh and bury the two friends side by side.

According to Billal’s daughter Afroza Akter, her father had travelled to India around 25 days ago to assist Habibur with his treatment. After completing the treatment, the two friends left Kolkata on August 9 to return to Bangladesh.

On the way, Billal complained of chest pain. Habibur took him to the nearby Bhangar District Specialized Hospital, where doctors declared him dead. Habibur reportedly died the next day while staying at the hospital with his friend’s body.

“My father and his friend’s bodies are still at the hospital. We are requesting the Bangladesh government to help bring them home. They died within a day of each other, and we want to bury them side by side on their homeland,” Afroza said.

Billal was the son of Karam Ali Majhi of Kapaiash village under Jamalpur Union in Kaliganj, Gazipur, while Habibur was the son of Asam Uddin of Phulbaria village in Kapasia, Gazipur.

A relative of the deceased, Shahidullah, said the families were seeking government assistance to bring the bodies back to Bangladesh.

Jamalpur Union Parishad Chairman Khairul Alam said the union parishad was making efforts to bring the bodies home. “We urge the government to take prompt measures in this regard,” he said.

Gazipur Deputy Commissioner Md Nurul Karim Bhuiyan said the families had not contacted him yet. “If they contact us, all possible assistance will be provided in accordance with the law,” he said.

-NAS/HIS