The bodies of four Bangladeshi expatriate brothers, who died inside a parked vehicle in Oman, were repatriated to Bangladesh on Tuesday evening. The flight carrying the remains landed at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport in Dhaka at approximately 21:00.
Humam Qader Chowdhury, the Member of Parliament for the Chittagong-7 (Rangunia) constituency, was present at the airport to officially receive the coffins. Following the arrival formalities, the bodies were transported by road to the brothers’ ancestral home in the Lalanagar area of Rangunia Upazila, Chittagong, arriving early on Wednesday morning.
Circumstances of the Fatal Incident
The deceased have been identified as Shahindul Islam, Sirajul Islam, Shohidul Islam, and Rashedul Islam. According to family sources, two of the brothers had been scheduled to return to Bangladesh on 15 May. In preparation for the journey, all four brothers had travelled together in a vehicle to purchase items from a local market.
Data provided by the Royal Oman Police and the Chittagong Samity in Oman outlined the precise sequence of events leading to the discovery of the vehicle in the Muladdah area:
| Time | Location | Reported Event |
| Wednesday Evening | Barka Area, Oman | The four brothers were documented travelling together for shopping. |
| Post-20:00 | En route to Muladdah | One brother transmitted an audio message and location data to a relative, stating they were severely ill and unable to exit the vehicle. |
| Wednesday Night | Muladdah Area, Oman | Two Bangladeshi expatriates spotted the stationary vehicle, noticed the unresponsive occupants, and alerted the local authorities. |
| Recovery Phase | Muladdah Area, Oman | Royal Oman Police breached the locked vehicle and recovered the four bodies. |
Cause of Death and Investigation Findings
The Royal Oman Police conducted an initial investigation into the fatalities. Forensic indicators suggest that the engine remained operational while the vehicle was stationary, causing a mechanical failure in the air conditioning exhaust system. This defect resulted in the accumulation of carbon monoxide gas within the vehicle’s cabin, leading to fatal asphyxiation.
Repatriation, Funerary Arrangements, and State Support
The arrival of the bodies in Lalanagar generated widespread mourning, drawing large crowds of relatives, neighbours, and citizens from surrounding districts. Emran Hossain, a cousin of the deceased, confirmed that four adjacent graves had been prepared in the village cemetery to facilitate a joint burial. The formal funeral prayers (Janazah) were scheduled for 11:00 on Wednesday.
MP Humam Qader Chowdhury stated that the tragic loss of four siblings simultaneously had deeply impacted the entire sub-district. He confirmed that the Government of Bangladesh had released immediate financial assistance to the bereaved family to cover the necessary transport and burial expenditures.