The agony of being alive
Tinni Begum had no words to spare yesterday -- as she lost six family members within the span of just a few hours.
After the death of her newborn daughter Tamanna, five of her family members including her husband Arifur Rahman (32) were on their way to bury the baby at their village home in Baukathi village of Jhalakathi Sadar Upazila.
Arif, Tinni's brother, mother-in-law, sister-in-law and brother-in-law, all were killed after a covered van collided with the ambulance they were travelling in.
Tinni survives as the only member of her immediate family, as she had stayed back in Dhaka. Her daughter Tamanna was born at Dhaka's Bangladesh Medical College Hospital, but she lived for little over a week before passing away due to illness.
A heartbreaking scene occurred at Arif's village home in Baukathi yesterday, as Tinni lost consciousness after seeing the bodies of her beloved family members.
The namaj-e-janaza of baby Tamanna, her father Arif, grandmother Kohinur Begum, uncles Tareq Rahman and Nazrul Islam and aunt Shiuli Begum were held in the afternoon.
Arif, Tamanna, Kohinur, and Tareq were buried adjacent to their residence while Nazrul and Shiuli will be buried at the village as well, said Kaiyum Hossain, Shiuli Begum's husband.
Kaiyum said he had last spoken to his wife on the afternoon of her death. "I was supposed to see her soon afterwards, but now she is gone."
"There's no one left in Arif's family except Tinni now," he added.
Arif's cousin Rashedul Hasan Sumon who had initially identified the victims, expressed his deep shock and sorrow, saying, "I was told that a grave would have to be dug for the newborn, whose death was already a tragedy for the family. Who knew that five more graves would have to be dug?"
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