Satkhira Correspondent

He left the country in search of a livelihood. He had a dream to keep his family happy. But an Israeli drone took that dream away midway. Finally, the long wait was over and Shafiqul Islam and Nahidul Islam, two remittance warriors from Satkhira who were killed in Lebanon, returned to their homeland in coffins.

A heartbreaking atmosphere was created when the bodies of two expatriates arrived at their village home on Sunday (June 7) morning. The entire area was stunned by the heartbreaking cries and wailing of relatives. The air around them became heavy with the tears of neighbors.

Earlier, the bodies of two expatriates arrived at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport in Dhaka late on Saturday (June 6). The bodies were handed over to the relatives of the deceased on behalf of the government. They were buried in the family graveyards of their respective villages after the Zuhr prayers on Sunday.

Shafiqul Islam (40) of Bhaluka Chandpur village in Satkhira Sadar Upazila and Nahidul Islam (20) of Kadakati village in Ashashuni Upazila were killed in an Israeli drone strike in their residence in the Jibdin area of the Nabatieh region in southern Lebanon on May 11. Their bodies were brought back to the country almost a month later under government arrangements.

Shafiqul Islam's death has left his family in the biggest crisis. He was the only earner in the family. The family is now facing great uncertainty in the absence of Shafiqul, who left behind his elderly parents, wife Ruma Khatun and two daughters. His eldest daughter, Mou Akhter, is a brilliant student of the science department. Her studies and future are now facing darkness due to her father's sudden death.

Faruk Hossain Mithu, panel chairman of Dhulihar Union Parishad, said, "The entire family used to live on Shafiqul's earnings. His untimely death has put the family in extreme crisis. The government needs special help to build the lives of the two daughters and protect the family's future."

Md. Khaledur Rahman, Assistant Director (Acting) of the Expatriates Welfare Center, Khulna, Ministry of Expatriates Welfare and Overseas Employment, said that after the body reached the country, a check of Tk 35,000 was handed over to the relatives for burial and shrouding at the airport.

He further said that since the deceased had gone abroad legally, the Wage Earners Welfare Board will provide Tk 3 lakh and Tk 10 lakh for life insurance. As a result, the families of the deceased Shafiqul and Nahidul will receive a total of Tk 1.3 lakh each as per the rules. The family of expatriate Shubhajit, who was injured in the same attack, will also receive this assistance.

However, this financial assistance may provide temporary relief, but the irreparable loss suffered by the two families cannot be compensated in any way. The people who fought under the scorching sun of the desert and the terror of the battlefield to bring smiles to their families' faces, have returned as dead bodies today. Their cruel farewell has cast a shadow of deep sorrow not only on the two families, but also on the entire Satkhira district.