All that remains are memories

Another person died in the fire that broke out at a building in Eskaton on Thursday, taking the death toll to five.

Shahidul Kirmani Rony (40), who lost his wife and son in the fire, breathed his last while undergoing treatment at the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) of Sheikh Hasina National Burn and Plastic Surgery Institute around 6:30am yesterday, said Dr Samanta Lal Sen, national coordinator of the burn institute.

Earlier, buying house staffer Abdul Kader Liton (40) and Viqarunnisa Noon School and College student Afrin Jahan Juthi (17) died in the fire that started around 4am at building no 45/A on Dilu Road.

Rony's four-year-old son AKM Rushdi also died that very day. Rushdi's mother Jannatul Fardous (38) passed away on Sunday, after suffering from 95 percent burn inuries.

Rony tried to escape the building through the stairs, carrying Rushdi in his arms. But unable to see in the dark, Rony stumbled down the stairs and Rushdi fell out of his arms.

Rony had then tried to crawl back up the stairs [for his son], but lost consciousness, Rony's sister Nasrin Akhther told The Daily Star earlier.

The family had big plans for their future. Jannatul had set up her own online business and the young family was planning to expand it. Rushdi was recently enrolled in a school.

A five-member committee headed by Abul Hosen, deputy director of Mymensingh Fire Service and Civil Defence, was formed to probe the incident. The committee has been asked to submit a report within 15 days.