Bodies of 6 Bangladeshis returning from Kolkata

Efforts are underway to bring back the bodies of six of the seven Bangladeshis killed in the fire at 'Shikha Inn' hotel in Kolkata's New Market area. Under the directive of the Bangladesh Deputy High Commission in Kolkata, the bodies will be sent to Bangladesh through two border crossings.

The bodies of five of the deceased will be brought through the Benapole border, while one body will be brought through the Bhomra border in Satkhira.

Those whose bodies will be sent through Benapole are Debashish Dutta, Afsana Shimmin, Sharnashish Dutta and Md Akram Ali from Kushtia, and Ahmed Babu from Savar. The body of S M Alimuzzaman of Satkhira will be sent through the Bhomra border.

Md Khaled, Bangladesh Deputy High Commissioner in Kolkata, said work is ongoing with the highest priority to send the bodies to the country by Friday (August 21) afternoon.

However, if the necessary formalities cannot be completed within the stipulated time, the process may continue until Saturday (August 22).

The body of Rebati Sarkar, a resident of Kaliganj, Satkhira, will be cremated in Kolkata itself. This decision was taken following a request from the family.

In a press briefing on Friday, the Bangladesh Deputy High Commission said Rebati Sarkar's son had expressed his desire to cremate his mother's body in Kolkata.

However, permission from the local administration of West Bengal is required for this. The matter has been communicated to the Foreign Ministry in Dhaka for necessary action.

A devastating fire broke out at the 'Shikha Inn' hotel in Kolkata's New Market area on Wednesday (August 19) night. At least nine people died, including seven Bangladeshis. The other two deceased are Indian nationals.