The Bangladeshi national among the 22 people killed in the recent hotel fire in India's New Delhi was from Chauddagram upazila of Cumilla.
The victim, Nurul Amin, 44, was from Sangishwar village under Chiora union. He had travelled to India with family members for his brother-in-law’s medical treatment, said Chauddagram Upazila Nirbahi Officer Shahadat Hossain.
Nurul died yesterday while undergoing treatment at a hospital in New Delhi.
Four members of his family were seriously injured in the fire and are currently receiving treatment in the intensive care unit (ICU). The injured are his brother-in-law Mosharraf Hossain, elder sister Rehana Akter, cousin Umme Johora, and Johora’s daughter Umme Jaima.
According to family members, Mosharraf had been suffering from kidney failure. On doctors’ advice, Nurul travelled to New Delhi on June 2 with four relatives for Mosharraf’s kidney transplant procedure.
They were staying at a hotel in Malviya Nagar, South Delhi, while preparations for the treatment were underway at a private hospital.
The UNO said local authorities were trying to establish contact with the deceased’s relatives.
Mohammad Bacchu Mia, another brother-in-law of Nurul, said, “Everything was going smoothly. On Wednesday morning, Nurul went downstairs to the hotel restaurant for breakfast while the other family members remained in their room. Suddenly, a fire broke out. Nurul suffered severe burns and later died at the hospital.”
Family members and relevant sources said the fire broke out at around 8:30am on Wednesday at the Flourish Stay hotel in Malviya Nagar. The flames quickly spread throughout the building, causing panic among guests, many of whom became trapped inside.
Nurul, Mosharraf, Rehana, prospective kidney donor Umme Johora, and her daughter were rescued from the burning building and taken to a hospital.
Relatives said Nurul owned a food manufacturing company, Amin & Brothers, in Chattogram. News of his death has cast a pall of grief over Sangishwar village in Chauddagram, where family members, neighbours and well-wishers are calling for the swift repatriation of his body.
The Chauddagram UNO said the government would provide necessary assistance through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to bring Nurul’s body back to Bangladesh. Authorities are also monitoring the treatment of the injured family members.
The Bangladesh High Commission in New Delhi said it was working to facilitate the quick repatriation of the deceased Bangladeshi national.
According to Indian media reports and information from the Bangladesh High Commission, the building housed a restaurant on the ground floor and a hotel on the upper floors. At least 22 people from various countries were killed and 28 others injured in the fire. The victims included nationals of India, Mozambique, Liberia, Nigeria, Uzbekistan, and Bangladesh.
