The bodies of four expatriate brothers from Rangunia upazila of Chittagong, recovered from inside a vehicle in Oman, are scheduled to arrive in the country on Tuesday night.
Amir Hossain Sumon, a member of Ward No 5 of Lalanagar Union Parishad in the upazila, confirmed the matter.
Speaking to Dhaka Tribune, he said, “The bodies of the four brothers who died in Oman will be brought back to Bangladesh on Tuesday night on a Biman Bangladesh Airlines flight scheduled to arrive at 8:00pm. The bodies will first be taken to Dhaka and then transported by road to Chittagong. Preparations are underway to bury them at their family graveyard.”
Quoting local expatriates, he added that the Oman Police has conducted an investigation into the recovery of the bodies of four expatriate brothers from inside a vehicle. According to expatriate sources, authorities suspect the victims may have died after inhaling carbon monoxide gas emitted from the car’s exhaust while the engine was still running.
Locals said the brothers’ elderly mother is critically ill, and the family has not yet informed her of the tragedy, fearing she would be unable to bear the shock of losing four sons at once.
The deceased were identified as Rashedul Islam, Shahedul Islam, Sirajul Islam and Shahidul Islam, sons of the late Jamal Uddin. Among them, Rashedul and Shahedul were married while Sirajul and Shahidul were unmarried.
Rashedul and Shahedul had been scheduled to return home together on Friday. Instead, their family is now awaiting the arrival of their bodies, as grief engulfs their home.
The brothers hailed from Bandarajar Para area under Ward No 5 of Lalnagar Union in Rangunia upazila of the district. Of the five siblings, four had been living in Oman, while another brother Enam, remains in Bangladesh. Their ailing elderly mother is also among the bereaved.
On May 12, police in Oman recovered the bodies of four brothers from inside a parked vehicle in the Muladdah area.
Rangunia Police Station Officer-in-Charge (OC) Mohammad Zahir Uddin told Dhaka Tribune that the bodies of the four deceased brothers are expected to reach their native village early Wednesday morning. He added that a Bangladesh Biman flight is scheduled to land at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport in Dhaka on Tuesday night with the bodies on board.