Cyclone Bulbul leaves 10 families in Bhola with no breadwinners
Jewel and his two siblings were waiting for his fisherman father who promised to return home with new dresses, but they only received their father’s body yesterday morning.
Jewel’s father, Hasan, 45, was one of the 10 fishermen who lost their lives as their boat capsized on Tetulia River in Mehendiganj upazila of Barishal during Cyclone Bulbul on Sunday noon.
A total of 24 men, including the boat owner, were returning home from Chandpur by the boat.
Nine more fishermen, except Hasan, who were killed in the boat capsize were identified as Abbas, 45, Rafique, 42, Kamal, 40, Billal, 38, Khorshed, 38, Kabir, 35, Nazrul, 34, Mofiz, 29, and Nurrunnobi, 26, all hailing from Charfashion’s Abdullapur.
Of them, body of Kamal was found floating on the spot where the boat capsized. Rest of the bodies remained stuck inside the boat.
All the fishermen were the only breadwinners of their families.
“I might have to leave studies and start working as I have to repay loans,” said ninth grader Jewel.
“My father took loans from some multipurpose societies to build our wooden house recently. The loan was supposed to be paid within this hilsa season,” he added.
Hasan went for sea fishing on November 1, said his son Jewel.
Thirteen crew members of the boat managed to swim ashore. One of them, seeking anonymity, told The Daily Star that the boat owner -- Tofayl Majhi -- who was also sailing the boat ignored the danger signal and continued sailing.
Tofayel survived the tragic boat capsize and was on the run since then.
Meanwhile, the whole village of Charfasion was shaken as all the bodies reached their homes together yesterday. All the bodies were buried at their families’ graveyards.
Bhola Deputy Commissioner Masud Alom Siddik said a two-member probe committee was formed to investigate the incident. The committee would submit their report within three working days.
Families of each victim have been provided with Tk 25,000 cash as primary compensation, he added.
Ruhul Amin, upazila nirbahi officer of Charfasion, said another fisherman on the boat remained missing as of yesterday.
Two more men of Charfasion also went missing during Cyclone Bulbul, he added.
Abidur Rahman, officer-in-charge of Mehendiganj Police Station, said a general dairy was filed with the police station in this connection.
Comments