Four Bangladeshi expatriate brothers from Rangunia upazila in Chittagong were found dead inside a car in Oman on Wednesday night.
The deceased were identified as Muhammad Rashed, Muhammad Shahed, Muhammad Siraj and Muhammad Shahid. They were from Bandaraja Para under Lalanagar union in Rangunia.
According to family sources, two of the brothers were scheduled to return to Bangladesh on Friday. The four had gone out together in a car for shopping when their bodies were recovered.
It is initially suspected that poisonous gas spread inside the vehicle, causing their deaths.
"Chittagong Samity Oman" President Md Yasin Chowdhury told the media that the four brothers were in Oman’s Barka area on Wednesday evening and later set off for Muladdah.
“Their bodies were recovered from inside the car, which was parked in front of a clinic there,” he said.
Yasin said one of the brothers sent a voice message to a relative in Barka after 8pm, saying they were very ill and unable to get out of the car. He also sent their location. Later at night, two other Bangladeshi expatriates saw the four lying unconscious inside the parked car in Muladdah and informed police. Police then opened the door and recovered the bodies.
“It is believed that the brothers had gone to the clinic after feeling unwell. Their bodies have been kept for autopsies. We are in constant contact with the family members of the deceased,” Yasin said.
Lalanagar Union Parishad Ward 5 member Amir Hossain said the area had been plunged into mourning following the deaths of the four brothers.
“Efforts are underway to bring the bodies home,” he said.
Rangunia Upazila Nirbahi Officer Md Nazmul Hasan told the media that the upazila administration had not been informed about the incident.
“We are looking into the matter,” he said.
