Hadisur Rahman, a Bangladeshi sailor who died in a rocket attack on a Ukraine port on Wednesday, came out of his cabin to the deck so that he could make a call home.
His younger brother Tareq said that Hadisur had earlier sought prayers from the family members as he along with 28 other crew remained stranded in the ship since February 22.
On Wednesday, Hadisur and the other sailors at the ship “Banglar Shamriddhi” were in their cabin. Hadisur went to the deck as there was no phone network inside the cabin, Tarek continued.
The ship is operated by state-owned Bangladesh Shipping Corporation (BSC).
Tarek said that Hadisur had uttered a word or two when the rocket hit the ship.
“I could hear the sounds of explosions from the other end, and then there was no response from my brother a moment later,” a tearful Tarek added.
Neighbours and relatives at the sailor’s house in Betagi Upazila in Barguna are mourning his death.
The authorities, including the deputy commissioner of Barguna, have assured them that they will do everything possible to bring Hadisur’s body back home soon.
Hadisur’s family members are now worried since he was the lone bread earner, and there is none to bear the educational expenses of his three younger siblings.
The shell struck the bridge of the ship, where Hadisur was on duty. The remaining 28 sailors, including two female cadets, on board were unhurt.
The fire started by the shell was put out by the crew, according to the BSC.
On Thursday, Bangladesh Ambassador to Poland Sultana Laila Hossain told Dhaka Tribune that Hadisur Rahman’s body had been preserved in a safe location.
State Minister for Foreign Affairs Md Shahriar Alam the same day said that the government was trying to move the 28 crew members of the ship to Warsaw, Poland from war-ravaged Ukraine.
He said that the crew members were also carrying with them the body of Hadisur.
The crew members, who have been evacuated from the ship, will be moved to Romania via Moldovia and then brought back to Bangladesh, Foreign Secretary Masud Bin Momen told the media on Friday.
