A Bangladeshi worker from Meherpur’s Gangni upazila has reportedly been killed in a massive explosion at the Amur Gas Chemical Complex in Russia, plunging his family into grief.
The deceased was identified as Alal Hossain Raju, son of Kheru Mondal of Hogolbaria Mathpara village in Motmura Union, Gangni.
Alal left for Russia while his wife was pregnant. His son was born just 15 days after his departure. He was scheduled to return home next month to meet his newborn son. He will now return home in a coffin.
According to his relatives, the explosion occurred at the Amur Gas Chemical Complex in Russia’s Amur region on Tuesday, killing at least 15 people. Bangladeshi worker Zakir Hossain was among those killed, while seven Bangladeshis were injured and another remained missing.
The Bangladesh Embassy in Moscow said the complex is operated by China’s Sinopec Engineering Group. Several victims were burned beyond recognition, making identification difficult. Alal, who was initially reported missing, was feared to be among them.
The embassy said the seven injured Bangladeshi workers were being transferred from Amur to a specialised hospital in Moscow for advanced treatment, with six currently in intensive care. The embassy will oversee their treatment after their transfer.
However, Alal’s family said they learned of his death after travelling to Dhaka and contacting the Bangladesh Embassy.
“We went to Dhaka and contacted the embassy, where we were told that my brother was no longer alive,” Alal’s brother Jalal Uddin said.
“His Chinese employer also told us that Alal died in the accident and that the military had taken his body. We will be officially informed through the embassy after the legal procedures are completed.”
Alal’s cousin Mahir Uddin said he had gone to Russia 13 months ago to work at a Sinopec gas field.
“They have confirmed that he died in the explosion. His body will be brought back to Bangladesh and handed over to the family after the legal procedures are completed,” he said.
“The biggest pain is that Alal left for Russia while his wife was pregnant. His son was born just 15 days later. He was supposed to return home next month to meet his son. He will return home, but not alive—only in a coffin,” Mahir said.
News of Alal’s death has cast a pall of grief over Hogolbaria Mathpara, with relatives mourning his death and the village plunged into sorrow.