Three expatriates named Shefayet, Asif and Hossain of Boro Maheshkhali Union of Maheshkhali, Cox's Bazar were killed in a bus accident in Saudi Arabia. The incident took place when the vehicle lost control and overturned near a bridge on Mahael road in Abha area of Asir province of Saudi Arabia on Monday evening. Three people are from Maheshkhali of Cox's Bazar, among the 20 passengers of the bus who were killed. The details of two of them were known, but the details of Mohammad Hossain were not immediately available.
Another 29 people were injured in the incident, the Saudi government told the country's media. The families of the victims are mourning. On behalf of the Maheshkhali upazila administration, the upazila executive officer rushed to console the families of the victims.
According to the family sources of the deceased in Saudi Arabia, the deceased Shefayet and Asif are cousins. Asif is the son of Ahmed Ullah of East Fakiraghona village and Shafayet is the son of Nurul Islam Bara Deil area. They lived nearby due to their maintenance work in the Al Baha District of Saudi Arabia. Both had intended to perform Umrah Hajj during the holy month of Ramadan. For this reason, they boarded a large-sized bus bound for the holy Makkah Sharif to perform Umrah Hajj. Later, when the news of the accident reached the victim's house in Maheshkhali, the air was heavy with the cries of relatives.
A source in the family confirmed that the bodies of the deceased are in the freezer of a hospital in Albaha district till the writing of this report.
Advocate Nayan, the relative of the deceased, said that the family is trying to communicate with the embassy in that country about bringing the bodies of the deceased to Saudi Arabia. The matter of burial will be decided later after the body arrives in the country with the help and advice of the embassy.
Asif's father Ahmed Ullah said, "My son told me about doing Umrah a week ago. His mother says perform Umrah first, now you do not have to send money. We can go on somehow. Asif spoke to his mother even 8 hours before the accident. Asif's father Ahmed Ullah burst into tears saying that my son will not come back.
Hearing the news of the incident, Maheshkhali Upazila Executive Officer Mohammad Yasin rushed to the families of the victims on Wednesday morning.
Maheshkhali Upazila Nirbahi Officer Mohammad Yasin said, we rushed to comfort the families after getting the news. Initially I consoled them. After informing the family about the matter to the district administration, all kinds of cooperation will be provided by the administration including cooperation to bring their dead bodies to the country.
The Upazila Nirbahi Officer said that till now we know the news of two people and after knowing the details of the other one we will know whether he belongs to Maheshkhali or not.
The untimely death of those killed in Saudi Arabia has cast a shadow of mourning on Maheshkhali's Baramehkhali Union.
Locals are visiting the families of the victims and offering condolences to their bereaved families.