Six Bangladeshis killed in South Africa supermarket fire
Photo Collected
A devastating fire at a supermarket in Queenstown, South Africa, claimed the lives of six Bangladeshi nationals early Tuesday morning, plunging several communities in Narayanganj and Munshiganj into deep mourning. The tragedy occurred in the Eastern Cape province, where five of the victims—all residents of Narayanganj—and one from Munshiganj lost their lives while working at the establishment.
The victims from Narayanganj have been identified as 55-year-old Noor Mohammad, 29-year-old Md Fahim, 23-year-old Md Apon, 26-year-old Md Faisal, and 30-year-old Md Shahin. The sixth victim was 55-year-old Md Rajik from the Kalindipara area of Munshiganj. According to reports, the supermarket was owned by Raoshan Ali, a local union parishad member from Alirtek in Narayanganj. While the exact cause of the blaze remains under investigation, officials suspect it may have been triggered by an electrical fault or a similar accident.
বিজ্ঞাপন
For many of the families, the news came as a harrowing shock, arriving only hours after final conversations with their loved ones. Noor Mohammad, who had spent eight years working in South Africa after a decade-long stint in Singapore, had called his son, Siam, just hours before the fire. He expressed relief that he had secured a work permit for the next 18 months, which would have allowed him to continue his employment abroad. Instead, that conversation became his final goodbye to his family, including his wife and three children.
The economic impact on the affected families is profound, as many relied heavily on remittances sent by the victims to cover daily expenses and ongoing construction projects. In the case of Md Apon, his family was in the middle of building a home with the hope of improving their living standards; his father, who operates a small tea stall, now faces both the loss of his son and significant financial uncertainty. Similarly, the families of Fahim and others are struggling to process the sudden end to years of labor and sacrifice.
বিজ্ঞাপন
Local authorities have stepped in to support the grieving families as they await the repatriation of the victims’ remains. SM Foyez Uddin Ahmed, the Executive Officer of Narayanganj Sadar Upazila, confirmed that his office is coordinating with the Ministry of Expatriates’ Welfare and Overseas Employment to expedite the return of the bodies and ensure the families receive necessary support and compensation. As the investigation into the fire continues, the relatives remain focused on the arduous task of mourning their loss and navigating an uncertain future.
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