Ahead it's all dark

The sole bread earner of an eleven-member family, Gias Uddin, a boiler mechanic at Multi-Fabs Dyeing Ltd in Gazipur, has been put in his final resting place following Monday's boiler explosion.

Until Monday, Gias' large family, which included his four brothers, two sisters, father, mother, wife and an eighteen month baby girl, lived in a hand to mouth state with the monthly income of the deceased 30 year old.

“But Monday's boiler explosion has turned our world upside down with the death of my brother- the only bread earning member of our family. We are at a loss. How will we survive the sudden passing of my brother?” Riad Uddin, the younger brother of Gias, told The Daily Star while taking the body to their village of Chandpur.

Riad said he had come to Dhaka two months ago and was now working as a helper at a tailoring shop where he earns a modest income.     

A family photo of boiler mechanic Gias Uddin, one of the dead, with his one and a half year old daughter at his home. Photo: Collected

“Apart from maintaining his own family, my brother looked after my five brothers and sisters who are school and college goers. My parents were also dependent on him as my father is not working,” Riad added, his eyes full of tears. 

Adding to the tragedy, Gias did not even get the chance to meet his wife, daughter or other members of his family this Eid as the factory owner didn't grant him leave.

“His little daughter was eagerly waiting for her father to visit her after Eid. But now she has lost him forever. Who will we blame for the loss?” Riad asked, the helplessness evident in his words.  

The tales of the 12 others killed in the explosion are quite similar to Gias'. Most of them were also lone bread earning members of their respective families, report our correspondents from the spot.

Of the deceased, Ershadullah, 35, had gotten married to Sathi Akhtar just  four months ago.

With his parents and two brother-in-laws, Ershadullah lived at a flat nearby the factory, Sathi said, as the tears rolled down her cheeks.

“Whose fault is it that I became a widow? Who will give me the answer?” Sathi lamented. 

At least 13 people were killed and many injured as a boiler exploded at Multi-Fabs Dyeing Ltd located in Noapara area in Gazipur on Monday.