Gopibagh train fire: Bodies of 3 victims identified, to be returned to families

Three bodies of victims, who were missing after the Benapole Express train fire at Gopibagh in the capital on January 5, have been identified through DNA tests. 

The bodies of the victims, identified as Alina Yasmin, 40, Abu Talha, 28, and Chandrima Chowdhury Soumi, 28, will be returned to their families by Dhaka Medical College Hospital authorities on Thursday.

Confirmation of identities was provided by Alina Yasmin's uncle Nazrul Islam, Abu Talha's father Abdul Haque, and Chandrima Chowdhury Soumi's uncle Atanu on Thursday morning.

Alina Yasmin hailed from Nurpur village in Rajbari town, Abu Talha was a third-year student at Bangladesh Army Science and Technology University in Syedpur, and Chandrima was a pharmacy student at a private university in Dhaka.

Alina’s uncle said she was travelling to Dhaka with some of her family members after the a special prayer for her late father. “They even talked to me around 6pm that day but after 9pm we could not find Alina anymore after the fire was reported.”

Abu Talha's father Abdul Haque said he was travelling to Dhaka from Faridpur, and their family members could not get a hold of him after he boarded the train.

“After about one month and nine days, his body was identified through a DNA test. Dhaka Medical College Hospital informed me about the identification of Abu Talha's body. After some legal complications, the authorities will hand over the body to us,” he said.

Meanwhile, Chandrima Chowdhury Soumi's uncle Atanu said: "We received a phone call from Dhaka Medical College Hospital last night that Soumi's body was identified through a DNA test. We will bring her body back.”

The tragic incident occurred on the night of January 5 when miscreants set fire to the Benapole Express train in Gopibagh, only two days before 12th national parliamentary election. 

Several compartments were engulfed in flames, resulting in the recovery of four bodies and numerous injuries. 

On receiving news of the fire, concerned relatives rushed to the scene from different parts of the capital.