Cox’s Bazar resort fire: Jashore family of 4 feared dead as relatives await DNA results

A family holiday to Cox’s Bazar was supposed to end with a return home on 18 October. Instead, two days after a fire tore through TupTup Restro and Resort in Inani, Ukhiya, Nahidur Rahman Tuhin, his wife and their two young daughters remain missing, leaving their family in Jashore fearing the worst.

Tuhin had travelled with his wife and daughters, aged seven and three, to enjoy a break by the sea. They had booked a room at the resort from 16 to 18 October and were scheduled to check out at 1pm on Saturday (17 October). But a fire broke out that morning, killing 10 people, according to police.

As of this evening, six of the victims had been preliminarily identified, but authorities had yet to establish which bodies belonged to whom. Four victims remained unidentified, including two children.

Tuhin’s elder brother, Jahidur Rahman, travelled from Sylhet to Cox’s Bazar after losing contact with the family following news of the fire.

“Since hearing about the fire, we have had no news of my younger brother, his wife or their two daughters. We still cannot confirm whether they are among the unidentified bodies. Of the four bodies, two are children. Their faces are unrecognisable, and my brother and his wife are not among the injured. Efforts are under way to identify them, and my DNA sample has been collected for final identification,” he said.

The uncertainty has cast a pall over Mohanpur Karikarp para in Monirampur municipality of Jashore, where relatives, neighbours and local residents have gathered at Tuhin’s family home.

His aunt, Roksana Akter Rupali, broke down in tears as she recalled raising him while his mother worked in a government job.

“I cannot believe my boy is dead. He had two beautiful little daughters. Whenever they came to the village, they filled the whole house with joy,” she said.

“I raised him from childhood. His mother would leave him with me and go to work. I was his wet nurse. I do not know where they are or what condition they are in. Allah, please keep them alive,” she added.

Tuhin worked as an officer at Grand Power Limited in Dhaka’s Shyamoli and lived with his family in Shewrapara, Mirpur.

His father, Matiar Rahman, who recently suffered a stroke and is bedridden, last spoke to his son on Friday night, the day before the fire. Tuhin had told him not to worry, saying the family was enjoying the beach and the children were playing. He asked his father to visit their Mirpur home on Wednesday after they returned to Dhaka.

“I was supposed to return to Dhaka on Wednesday. We spoke on Friday night, and he was enjoying the beach with everyone. He told me, ‘Father, don’t worry. We are at the seaside, and the children are playing. I will return to Dhaka on Tuesday. Come to our Mirpur home on Wednesday.’ I will never speak to them again…” Matiar said.

Abu Sayeed, officer-in-charge of Monirampur Police Station, said Jahidur had reached Cox’s Bazar and that Tuhin’s family had not yet been identified among the victims.

“Nothing can be confirmed without DNA tests,” he said.

Atikur Rahman Majumder, officer-in-charge of Ukhiya Police Station, said police had filed a case against 23 people over the fire, naming resort owner Md Tanvir as the prime accused. He said six victims had been preliminarily identified, while the remaining four included two women, a child and a man. DNA samples had been collected from relatives of missing people to establish their identities.

Meanwhile, friends, colleagues and people from different walks of life in Tuhin’s hometown have been sharing photographs and memories of him on social media, expressing grief and solidarity with the family as they wait for answers.