Bangladesh Buries Kolkata Hotel Fire Victim SM Alimuzzaman Saju

The mortal remains of SM Alimuzzaman Saju have returned to his native land for final funeral rites following a fatal fire incident in the neighboring country of India. His body arrived at his residence in Boreya village, located within the Tarali union of Kaliganj upazila in Satkhira district, Bangladesh, at 2:15 pm on Saturday.

The tragic event stems from a devastating fire that broke out in the early hours of August 19. The blaze engulfed the 'Shikha Inn' residential hotel situated on Mirza Ghalib Street within the New Market area of Kolkata. The catastrophe resulted in a total of nine fatalities, among whom seven were identified as Bangladeshi nationals.

The death toll from the Kolkata inferno included four individuals hailing from Kushtia district and one person from Dhaka. Meanwhile, another victim from Satkhira's Kaliganj upazila—Revati Sarkar from Tentulia village—met a different fate. According to the explicit decisions made by the bereaved family, Revati Sarkar's body was cremated directly in Kolkata at the Nimtala crematorium.

Saturday afternoon brought profound sorrow to Boreya village as preparations for the final farewell unfolded. Saheb Sardar, the elder brother of the deceased, shared his immense grief regarding the untimely loss. He noted that the funeral prayers, known as Janaza, were scheduled to take place after Asr prayers in front of the Sardar Bari Jame Mosque near their family home, where Saju was laid to rest in front of his new house. Noting that Saju never married, Saheb Sardar remarked with deep anguish that he and the family served as Saju's entire world, making it exceptionally painful to witness a younger brother depart before the elder.

Childhood memories and community grief heavily marked the solemn occasion. Vhabesh Ghosh, a lifelong friend of the deceased, reflected emotionally on their shared past, stating that Saju harbored no divisions based on political affiliation, ideology, religion, or caste. Ghosh recounted meeting Saju just before his trip to Kolkata, expressing profound sorrow at witnessing his childhood friend's grave being dug in the courtyard.

Locals also gathered to pay their respects and mourn a figure known for his benevolence toward the vulnerable. Farhad Hossain stated that the entire village, ranging from young children to the elderly, remained utterly shocked and speechless by the loss of a genuinely good man who consistently supported the poor and helpless. Ismail Hossain added a poignant detail about unfinished plans, recalling that bricks had already been stacked for construction work and that Saju had promised to commence the project immediately upon returning from India, only to tragically arrive home as a lifeless corpse.