Gano Bhaban hosts wedding of 3 victims

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina helps the brides wear ornaments as their mother at Gonobhaban yesterday. Photo: Focus Bangla

Three weddings with a difference: they all played out in the shadows of sadness.
The only silver lining was the role of a woman, who was none other than the prime minister.
Sheikh Hasina last night married three girls off at a low-key ceremony at Gano Bhaban. Two of the girls were orphaned by the June 3 building blaze in Old Dhaka. The third lost her mother to the inferno. Her father is fighting for life in hospital.
It was Hasina who came to their lives as mother. She bought for them ornaments, saris, and all other thing necessary for a wedding.
This was the first time that the wedding of any girl is completed at Gono Bhaban in presence of a prime minister.
Hasina adorned the three girls with gold ornaments and blessed them.
Sakina Aktar Ratna, her younger sister Faroa Akhtar Runa and Asma Akhtar lost most of their family members in the Nimtoli fire on June 3.
Ratna tied the knot with Saidur Rahman Suman, Runa with Mohammad Jamil and Asma with Mohammad Alamgir. The three girls and Jamil lost their mothers and other family members.
"I'm missing my younger brother Anik. After losing our dear ones, I'm quite happy today that the prime minister has come to our lives as a close kin," Suman said after the wedding.
Jamil said he missed his mother and other family members on such a happy occasion.
Alamgir, who married Asma, sought everyone's blessing for a happy married life.
A special prayer was offered at 11:30pm for the salvation of the departed souls of the members of the four families.
Awami League leaders Mofazzal Hossain Chowdhury Maya, MA Aziz, Hazi Mohammad Selim, Mostafa Jalal Mohiuddin took the bridegrooms to the stage at the conference hall of Gano Bhaban at about 9:30pm.
However, the wedding ceremony was scheduled for 7:00pm.
Local AL lawmaker Jalal said the weddings were arranged just a week after the devastating fire as there was no religious restriction and the families of the brides and bridegrooms agreed to complete the weddings as soon as possible.