The body of Gautam Mistry, 55, an Indian passport holder who died at the Benapole checkpost in Jessore’s Sharsha upazila, was returned to India on Friday after receiving clearance from the Indian High Commission.
Mistry died of a stroke at Benapole on Wednesday while returning to India after spending about two weeks visiting relatives in Barisal.
His body was taken to India through Petrapole immigration via the Benapole checkpost at around 10:30am on Friday.
Gautam’s wife, Jahanara Mistry, said: “Two weeks ago, I came to my father’s house in Barisal with my husband. We also visited other relatives. Last Wednesday, I came to Benapole to return home. After getting out of the car, my husband fell ill. When I took him to a local hospital, the doctor declared him dead.”
She said: “I could not return home with the body because we lacked various documents, as he died on the Bangladesh side. After almost three days, I am returning home today with my husband’s body after obtaining the death certificate from the hospital, the GD copy from the local police station and clearance from the Indian High Commission in Dhaka.”
“I am very grateful to the people of Bangladesh. I had no money, but the people of this country helped me financially. They helped with everything, from loading and unloading the body to arranging transportation,” she added.
Benapole Immigration Officer-in-Charge Saifur Rahman said: “The Indian passport holder who died of a stroke last Wednesday returned home through Benapole port today. On the day he died, his wife, Jahanara Mistry, had no documents other than the death certificate and a copy of the GD filed with the police station.”
“Later, after obtaining clearance from the embassy, Benapole Immigration issued the necessary clearance this morning. His wife, Jahanara Mistry, then left for India with her husband’s body,” he added.