Three years ago, Suranjan Das sold his family’s century-old ancestral home and took high-interest loans to send his son, Shubo Das, to Lebanon in the hope of overcoming poverty.
Now, the family is waiting for his body to return home.
Shubo Das, 25, was killed in an Israeli drone strike in the Maifadoun area of southern Lebanon on Monday night.
On Wednesday afternoon, a scene of grief unfolded at the family’s rented house in Sripatipur village under Kalaroa municipality in Satkhira.
Shubo’s mother, Shikha Rani Das, was seen crying on the veranda of the dilapidated house, while his father, Suranjan Das, sat silently outside. Neighbours and relatives crowded the house to console the family.
Suranjan, a van driver by profession, said he had sold his ancestral property and borrowed another Tk4 lakh from NGOs and local lenders at high interest to send his son abroad.
The family has been living in a rented house for the past three years.
“Shubo used to send around Tk35,000 every month. We used that money to pay loan instalments and support the education of his younger brother and sister,” he said.
Breaking down in tears, Shikha Rani Das said: “My son did not even get married because he wanted to improve our condition first. He used to say he would save money and build a house. Now, who will repay the loans? How will we survive?”
Shubo’s younger sister, Sadhana Das, a Class IX student at Kalaroa Government Girls High School, said she last spoke to her brother on Sunday night.
“He was upset because he had not been able to send money for the past two months. He used to pay for our studies. I will never get my brother back, but now I do not know how we will continue our education or where we will live,” she said.
Neighbour Suman Das described Shubo as a calm and well-mannered young man who had good relations with everyone in the area.
“His untimely death has shocked the entire village,” he said.
According to locals, three expatriates from Satkhira have been killed in Israeli attacks in Lebanon within two days.
Local union parishad member Shahadat Hossain said Suranjan Das no longer owns any land and now lives with his family in a small rented house.
“The entire area is mourning Shubo’s death. We demand that the government bring his body back as quickly as possible and provide assistance to the family,” he said.
Kalaroa Upazila Executive Officer (UNO) Ariful Islam said the administration is in contact with the Bangladesh consulate and relevant authorities to facilitate the repatriation of the body.
“We are also taking initiatives to provide financial assistance to the family,” he added.
Satkhira Additional Deputy Commissioner (General) Bishnupad Pal said legal procedures and official communications regarding the return of the bodies are ongoing.