A promise to call, and a coffin yet to come
A voice message now stands as the last trace of Saleh Uddin.
The 55-year-old Bangladeshi national living in Ajman, UAE, had sent a voice message to his brothers who live in the same city, saying he would speak with them around 10:00 pm (local time).
For all latest news, follow The Daily Star's Google News channel. But before that moment came, he was killed due to a missile strike.
Saleh died on Saturday evening amid the ongoing Middle East war, according to family members.
They said the missile hit his vehicle around 7:30 pm (local time) while he was out on duty shortly after iftar.
He was taken to a local hospital, where doctors declared him dead. His family received confirmation of his death around noon yesterday.
At his home in Gaziteka village, under Barlekha municipality in Moulvibazar, grief engulfed his loved ones.
Relatives and neighbours gathered to offer condolences as family members struggled to come to terms with the loss.
Saleh was the son of the late Sabar Ali and is survived by his wife, three sons and a daughter, mother, and brothers.
His eldest son, Abdul Haque, said Saleh had been living in the UAE for 27 years, working as a driver of a water supply vehicle in Ajman to support his family back home.
“After iftar, my father received a call to deliver water. He left immediately. Later, we came to know that a missile hit his vehicle. He was taken to hospital but did not survive,” Abdul said, breaking down in tears.
He urged the authorities to expedite the process of bringing his father’s body back to Bangladesh.
Shelly Begum, wife of Saleh’s younger brother Zakir Hossain, said Saleh had last spoken to his wife on February 27. He had visited Bangladesh last year and returned to the UAE about four months ago.
The family first heard around 10:00 pm on Saturday that he had been killed, but they were unable to confirm the news immediately.
Later, Saleh’s two brothers, who also live in Ajman, went to the hospital where he had been taken, but were not allowed to see him.
This morning, Expatriates’ Welfare and Overseas Employment Minister Ariful Haque Chowdhury called the family and expressed condolences. He assured them that necessary steps were being taken to bring the body home.
Barlekha Upazila Nirbahi Officer Ghalib Chowdhury said the local administration had visited the family and was coordinating with the relevant authorities.
“The family has applied to the embassy for repatriation of the body. The embassy is extending support,” he said, adding that the administration would stand by the family.
Officials said bringing the body home may take time due to the prevailing situation in the Middle East region.
For now, the family waits in mourning -- holding on to the memory of a voice message sent in the ordinary rhythm of an evening, before everything fell silent.
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