The body of expatriate Bangladeshi Shahed Ahmed Ashik, a 35-year-old killed in a missile strike in Saudi Arabia, was brought to his home in Madla village of Shahjahanpur upazila, Bogra, at approximately 2:30 pm on Friday.
The arrival of his body triggered an outpouring of grief, with relatives breaking down in tears. Shahed, the family's sole breadwinner, left behind his wife and two children, who now face an uncertain future.
His body is scheduled to be buried beside his grandfather’s grave in the family courtyard following the namaj-e janaza at the local high school ground at 5:00 p.m. on Friday.
Earlier in the morning, Shahed’s wife, Kakoli Begum, and their two children went to Dhaka to receive his body. They later brought it to their village home, where relatives gathered to mourn his death.
Shahed's brother, Masum Rana, stated that Shahed arrived at King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh at approximately 5:00 pm Saudi local time on October 10 and spoke with his wife by telephone.
Shortly afterwards, a missile struck the airport’s Terminal 3 area, killing Shahed along with several others, Masum said.
He stated that the family received Shahed’s body in Dhaka on Friday morning before transporting it to their village home. The body arrived at approximately 2:30 pm and will be buried next to their grandfather’s grave following the namaz e janaza.
Shahed’s father, Rafiqul Islam, also lives in Saudi Arabia for work. With both of his parents abroad during the family’s time of grief, relatives said the tragedy has become even more difficult to bear.
Shahed’s sudden death has cast a pall of grief over his family and relatives. His wife and two children are now facing not only the pain of losing their loved one but also uncertainty regarding their future.
Why it matters
The return of the victim highlights the human toll of foreign conflicts on overseas Bangladeshi workers and their families.