The body of expatriate Bangladeshi Shahed Ahmed Ashik, 35, who was killed in a missile strike in Saudi Arabia, was taken to his home in Madla village of Shahjahanpur upazila, Bogra, around 2:30pm on Friday.
The arrival of his body triggered an outpouring of grief, with relatives breaking down in tears. Shahed, the family’s sole breadwinner, left behind his wife and two children, who now face an uncertain future.
His body is scheduled to be buried beside his grandfather’s grave in the family courtyard after the namaj-e janaza at the local high school ground at 5:00pm on Friday.
Earlier in the morning, Shahed’s wife, Kakoli Begum, and their two children went to Dhaka to receive his body. They later brought it to their village home, where relatives gathered to mourn his death.
Shahed’s brother, Masum Rana, said Shahed arrived at King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh at around 5:00pm Saudi local time on October 10 and spoke to his wife over the phone.
Shortly afterwards, a missile struck the airport’s Terminal 3 area, killing Shahed along with several others, Masum said.
He said the family received Shahed’s body in Dhaka on Friday morning before bringing it to their village home. The body arrived at around 2:30pm and will be buried beside their grandfather’s grave following the namaz e janaza.
Shahed’s father, Rafiqul Islam, also lives in Saudi Arabia for work. With both of his parents abroad during the family’s time of grief, relatives said the tragedy has become even more difficult to bear.
Shahed’s sudden death has cast a pall of grief over his family and relatives. His wife and two children are now facing not only the pain of losing their loved one but also uncertainty over their future.