Bangladeshi tax driver mourns the death of his uncle in ferry disaster

Mohammed Haque, whose uncle died in the accident, said bad weather had caused the tragedy. Pawan Singh / The National

ABU DHABI // A Dubai taxi driver has spoken of his family’s grief when his uncle was revealed as one of 70 people killed in a Bangladeshi ferry accident last weekend.

“About 20 minutes before the accident, my uncle talked to his wife,” said Mohammed Haque. “I am traumatised as it’s very painful to lose such a humble and down-to-earth person who always stood for help to all.”

The victim, Fazlul Khan, 50, spoke to his wife from the ferry and told her of high waves.

The vessel was carrying 150 passengers when it capsized 137 kilometres west of Dhaka after colliding with a trawler on the Padma River.

It was heading to Paturia from Daulatdia in Rajbari, on the opposite bank of the river.

Khan was a government officer with the road and transport authority in Dhaka, the Bangladeshi capital.

“His wife, whom I consoled a few days back, told me that they both prayed for his well-being and safe return,” Mr Haque said. “I was not informed directly by my family members [of his uncle’s death] but friends told me,” said Mr Haque, 28, who has driven a taxi for six years.

“In case of such tragic accidents, family members back home avoid immediately informing those who live abroad,” he said, to avoid shocking the expatriate member, who usually lived alone. “The pain feels sharper here because we are alone and can’t express our feelings except by phone.”

Funeral prayers were performed for Khan at several locations across Bangladesh because he was so loved and widely respected, said Mr Haque.

He said the ferry was sound and that bad weather had been responsible for the tragedy.

“It’s sad for me that I can’t do anything to help the family because I am here, thousands of kilometres away,” he said. “Now his two brothers back home will take the responsibility to support Khan’s family. Thank God they are well off and are going to take care of other family members,” Mr Haque said.

Khan is survived by his wife, a 14-year-old son and 17-year-old daughter.