The body of Kamal Hossain, a resident of Chauddagram in Comilla who died from monkeypox in the United Arab Emirates (UAE), was brought back to Bangladesh and buried on Friday morning with strict health precautions.
The burial took place at 8am in his village after namaz-e-Janaza, following directives from the Ministry of Health and the district administration.
Local government officials were present during the ceremony.
Kamal Hossain, 38, son of Nazir Ahmed from Mestala village in Munshihat Union, had passed away on September 3 in the UAE, where he had been working for the last seven years. His body arrived at Dhaka's Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport on Thursday night.
Chauddagram Upazila Nirbahi Officer (UNO) Mohammad Rahmat Ullah said that the burial was carried out following all health guidelines to ensure the safety of the community. “We ensured that no one violated the health protocols during the burial process,” he added.
According to family members, Kamal had contracted monkeypox in the UAE and passed away in a hospital in Sharjah on September 30. He leaves behind two daughters.
His grieving father, Nazir Ahmed, said: “We never expected to lose him like this. He had gone to the UAE to support the family. Now I am deeply worried about how his widow will survive with their two young children.”
Chauddagram Upazila Health and Family Planning Officer, Golam Kibria, explained that monkeypox is a viral disease that can be fatal. While there have been no confirmed cases of monkeypox in Bangladesh, Kamal Hossain's family members have been placed under observation as a precaution.
The Officer-in-Charge (OC) of Chauddagram Police Station, A T M Akhtar Uz Zaman, confirmed that the burial was conducted under strict security, with the presence of law enforcement and health officials to ensure adherence to all protocols.