Jashore's Nahidur goes missing alongwith family

A couple and their two children have been missing since the fire broke out at Tuptup Restaurant and Resort in Inani, in Cox's Bazar's Ukhiya, raising fears that they may be among the 10 people killed in the blaze.

The missing family members are Nahidur Rahman, 41, his wife Afsana Matin Tanji, 36, and their minor daughters-- Ruzaina Inaya, 7, and Sunaina Ihana, 3. Nahidur is the son of Matiar Rahman of Mohonpur village in Manirampur municipality of Jashore.

He worked as an officer at Grand Power Limited in Shyamoli, Dhaka. He lived with his family in Shewrapara, Mirpur.

Relatives have been unable to contact any of the four since the fire. As of midnight on Saturday, their whereabouts remained unknown. Relatives fear they could be among the unidentified bodies recovered from the resort.

Family members said Nahidur was a student in the second batch of the Department of Criminology and Police Science at Mawlana Bhashani Science and Technology University.

His elder brother, Zahidur Rahman Prince, who lives in Manirampur town, confirmed the family’s disappearance. He shared a photograph of the resort booking receipt via WhatsApp, showing that Nahidur had reserved a room from October 16 to 18. The booking was made on October 11, and the family was scheduled to check out at 1pm on October 18.

Zahidur said Nahidur had told him that he would travel to Cox’s Bazar on Friday. After learning about the fire on Saturday, he repeatedly called his younger brother but could not reach him or any other member of the family. Unable to establish contact, he set out for Cox’s Bazar on Saturday evening.

“We are two brothers. Our mother is no longer alive, and our ailing father lives with us in the village. He still does not know what has happened to Nahidur.''

Zahidur added, Nahidur lived in Dhaka with his wife, who is a homemaker, and the family usually visited their village during holidays and festivals.

“We have not been able to confirm whether they are alive or dead. We are extremely worried about them,” he said.

Contacted on Saturday night, Additional Superintendent of Cox's Bazar Police Ahidur Rahman said police had received information about a missing person named Nahid, but did not have details about the other family members.

He said information had been obtained about the identities of six missing people, while the identities of four others remained unconfirmed. DNA samples are being collected to identify the bodies, and authorities suspect that the remaining four could be members of Nahidur’s family.

News of the family’s disappearance spread across Manirampur on Saturday night, with people from different walks of life sharing their photographs on social media and expressing concern and sympathy.

A massive fire broke out at TupTup Resort in Patuar Tek, Inani, along the Marine Drive in Ukhiya, early Saturday, killing 10 people. Six of the victims were reportedly members of the same family.

Police and Fire Service officials said the fire started at around 6:30AM and was brought under control at approximately 8:30AM after two hours of firefighting.

Ten charred bodies were recovered from the scene. DNA testing will be required to establish the victims’ identities.