Instead of returning home, news of his death arrived
Hotel fire in Kolkata, India. Collected photo
A Bangladeshi man named Ahmed Babu (37), was killed in a hotel fire in Kolkata, India. He was a cosmetics businessman from Savar, Dhaka. One of Babu’s uncles informed his family of his death on Wednesday afternoon.
Savar Upazila Nirbahi Officer (UNO) Saiful Islam said the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Ministry of Expatriates’ Welfare and Overseas Employment will take the necessary steps to bring Babu’s body back to Bangladesh.
Ahmed Babu was the son of Adam Ali of Shikdarpara in the Begunbari area of Aminbazar Union in Savar. He owned a shop called “Cute Cosmetic” at Shaheen Super Market beside the Aminbazar bus stand.
Babu’s elder brother Mohammad Ali said, “Babu was supposed to return home. But this afternoon, news came from Kolkata that Babu is no longer alive.”
He said Ahmed Babu left for Kolkata at around 10 pm Monday. He arrived in Kolkata Tuesday morning. He was supposed to buy cosmetics for his shop there and return home on Wednesday. But around 2 pm Wednesday, news came that he had died in a hotel fire in Kolkata.
Mohammad Ali also said, “Ahmed Babu was the youngest of four brothers. He ran a cosmetics and beauty products business at Shaheen Super Market beside the Aminbazar bus stand. He has a wife, a daughter and a son. His daughter Roza is only 12 years old and his son Soat is 6. The children became fatherless at such a young age.”
Neighbor Haji Nazim Uddin said, “We had not received any news even in the morning. Suddenly, in the afternoon, we heard that Babu had died. Babu had a cosmetics business in Aminbazar. His business was doing well. He would often go to Kolkata to bring cosmetics. He would bring cosmetics from different brands back to the country and sell them.”
Lavlu, an employee at Babu’s shop, said they sell cosmetics from various brands. He said, “My employer often goes to Kolkata alone to bring cosmetics. He stays for a day or two and then returns to the country with the shop’s goods. But this afternoon, news of his death came.”
The UNO said, “Based on information from local residents, I learned that a person from the Aminbazar area of Savar was killed in a hotel fire in Kolkata. However, as people from different parts of the country were killed in the incident, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs or the Ministry of Expatriates’ Welfare and Overseas Employment will handle the matter of bringing the bodies back.”
