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Kirtankhola Launch Tragedy

Orphaned, they still wait for sibling's return

20 February 2009, 18:00 PM

NATIONAL

Rafiqul Islam, Barisal

Inconsolable Zohora wails death of parents in Thursday's launch capsize in the Kirtankhola.Photo: STAR

Rahima and Zohora, who lost their parents in Thursday's launch capsize in the Kirtankhola, are still waiting on the riverbank for their missing brother. Rahima also came to the spot to take bodies of her parents Mintu Dhali and Rashia Begum and her only brother Hanifa. Eight-year-old Rahima only gave a blank look when asked, “Where are your parents?” “Five of our family -- parents, brother Hanifa and sister Rahima -- started for Patarhat under Mehediganj upazila at out village home on Thursday morning. After sometime my father jumped into the river with Rahima and me. He took us to the riverbank and then went back to the launch to rescue my mother and brother but did not come back,” said Rahima's elder sister eleven-year-old Zohora. Later bodies of her parents were recovered from the river but her brother along with over a dozen people remained missing as of filing this report yesterday evening. Twenty-seven bodies including 26 from inside the salvaged launch ML Fahmida Happy Express have been recovered.