Highlights
- A Bangladeshi migrant worker from Munshiganj reportedly killed in a missile attack in Iraq
- Family members are desperate to see his body one last time
- He had been working in Iraq as an undocumented migrant since 2016
- Local administration says efforts are underway to bring the body back to Bangladesh
A Bangladeshi migrant worker, Hobi Mia Paik (37), from Munshiganj is reported to have been killed in Iraq Missile Attack in Baghdad, Iraq, according to information provided by one of his coworkers. Hobi Mia was a resident of Bokultola village in Adhara Union of Munshiganj Sadar.
Mother’s Heartbreaking Plea to See Her Son One Last Time
Hobi Mia’s mother, Laki Begum (55), broke down in tears after hearing the news of her son’s death. She said she only wants to touch and see her son one last time. She said,
“কত দিন অয় পোলাডার লগে কথা কই না, একটু দইরা দেখতে পারি নাই। পোলাডারে বোম দিয়া মাইরাইলো। ওরে তো আর পামু না। শেষবারের মতো একটু কাছ থেইকা দেখতে চাই, একটু দইরা দেখতে চাই।”
Translation: It has been so long since I last spoke to my son. I could not even touch him. They killed him with bombs. I will never get him back. I just want to see and touch him one last time.
Hobi Mia was the second of three brothers. In 2016, he left his parents, wife, and two daughters behind and went to Iraq to work. Reports say he was living there as an undocumented migrant worker. His wife, Khadija Akter, has been living in Dhaka with their two daughters since he left for Iraq.
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Last Conversation Before Death
Khadija said she last spoke with her husband on Friday, when he expressed fear about the ongoing missile attacks and said he would return home after the war ended.
She said:
“গত শুক্রবার আমার সঙ্গে তাঁর শেষ কথা হয়… যুদ্ধ শেষে বাড়ি চলে আসবেন বলেছিলেন।”
Translation: I last spoke with him on Friday. He said he would come back home after the war ended.
She could not reach him the next day. Later, a coworker informed her that Hobi had been detained by police and would be released after a week. However, on Monday afternoon, the same coworker informed her that he had died from missile injuries. She said he had suffered severe injuries to his chest and legs.
Family Requests Government to Bring Back the Body
With tears in her voice, Khadija said:
“আমার মেয়েরা ওদের জীবিত বাবাকে আর পাবে না। অন্তত বাবার মৃত মুখ যেন দেখতে পায়। সরকার যেন দ্রুত তাঁর লাশ দেশে আনার ব্যবস্থা করে।”
Translation: My daughters will never see their father alive again. At least let them see his face one last time. I request the government to bring his body back quickly.
Brother Says Family Sold Land to Send Him Abroad
Hobi’s younger brother, Firoz Paik, said the family had sold their last piece of land to send him abroad for work. She said,
“আমাদের শেষসম্বল একটি জমি বিক্রি করে ভাইকে বিদেশ পাঠিয়েছিলাম… শেষবারের মতো ভাইয়ের লাশটা আমরা দেখতে চাই।”
Translation: We sold our last piece of land to send my brother abroad. Now we only want to see his body one last time.
District Administration Working to Repatriate Body
Munshiganj Deputy Commissioner Syeda Nurmahal Ashrafi said the administration is working to bring the body back as quickly as possible and is also providing support to the family. Later in the afternoon, an assistant commissioner visited the family to meet and console them.
The death of Hobi Mia Paik in Iraq has left his family in deep grief and financial uncertainty. Their only wish now is to bring his body back to Bangladesh so they can perform his last rites and say their final goodbye.
Source: Prothom Alo
