The mortuary is located next to the emergency department of Chattogram Medical College Hospital. Two friends - Mohammad Shahed and Mohammad Iqbal are lying side by side on two beds. The time of the two friends did not pass without chatting. Even from close quarters, there are no words or stories of happiness and sadness in the mouths of those two friends. Be it or what - in the coil of smoke of the fire, the bodies of the two friends have become silent forever.
Shahed and Iqbal - two friends of almost the same age. Shahed is 18 and Iqbal is 17. Residents of Mirzakhil area of Satkania, these two youngsters grew up together since childhood. Later two friends came to Chattogram city and got jobs in two shops. Even though both of them were busy at their respective workplaces throughout the week, one friend's heart fell on the other friend. That's why Iqbal used to rush to Shahed's house on Thursday night. They didn't know when the two friends' night would end while talking and playing games on the phone. After spending time with his friend Shahed, Iqbal used to leave on Friday and return to their homes. This time, one friend could not say goodbye to another friend. The two departed from the life before that.
On Thursday (June 27) two friends lost their lives in the Riazuddin Bazar fire at midnight. Along with them, a 45-year-old man named Mohammad Ridwan also died.
Mohammad Shahed worked at Azwar Telecom, a mobile phone parts shop in Rezwan Complex, Riazuddin Bazar. Iqbal used to work in another shop.
Azwar Telecom owner Sajjad Mia has lost his worker Shahed and is in mourning. He tried his best to rescue Shahed. But he could not.
Sajjad Mia said, 'Shaheed and Iqbal were close friends. I used to feel the pull of one friend for another. Shahed used to talk on the phone with Iqbal whenever he got a chance during business. When I went home on Thursday, the house was empty. So Shahed used to bring Iqbal. Two friends were in the house when the fire broke out. Death happened together.'
Mohammadi Plaza is adjacent to Rezwan Complex. The fire started on the second floor of this plaza. The fire spread to the nearby Rezwan Complex. And three people lost their lives.
Mohammad Shahed was acquainted with Mohammad Ridwan of Away Telecom in Mohammadi Complex. He said, I knew both Shahed and Iqbal. They were very close friends. When Thursday came, Iqbal used to rush to his friend Shahed's house. I heard someone yelling at them when they catch fire, but they didn't hear it while playing games with headphones in their ears. Later they realize when the fire increases. But by then black smoke surrounded them. They died of suffocation in that smoke.'
Relatives of Shahed and Iqbal rushed to the Chattogram Medical College Hospital after hearing the news that Shahed and Iqbal lost their lives in the fire. The police members took various information from them by sitting them in a room next to the emergency department.
Shahed and Iqbal were residents of Kutub Para, Banglabazar Mirzakhil, Satkania. Shahed's bereaved father Betha Mia is not in a position to speak after losing his son. He sat with his head in his hands the whole time.
Uncle Mohammad Solaiman cried while talking about his nephew. He said, I brought him up on my lap as a child. I never thought I would have to take him back to the cemetery.
Solaiman's heart is burning for his nephew's friend Iqbal. Said, 'Shaheed and Iqbal are friends since childhood. There were two friends who slept in the same bed and ate on the same plate. Iqbal came to visit my nephew's house. He also had to die tragically while visiting. Who else will I blame?'
Martyrs are two brothers. Elder brother is an expatriate in Saudi Arabia. Shahed's uncle Jasimuddin said that Riazuddin Bazar caught fire, we got the news at night. But I did not know that my nephew was trapped there.
In the morning I got news that Shahed could not be found. Later came to the CMCH hospital and found his dead body. Found the dead body of his friend Iqbal. Both friends are 17-18 years old. One could not exist without the other. Now they died together.
Although several shops were burnt down in the fire, the shop where Shahed worked remained intact. Sajjad Mia, the owner of the shop named Azwar Telecom, is still upset. All this upset is for Shahed. He said, yesterday I handled two customers sitting together in the shop. At night I said goodbye to him and went home. Last night I came and saw that he was gone. How human? I feel worse for his friend Iqbal who died while coming to spend time with him.'
Shahed and Iqbal - the lives of two friends were tied by the same thread throughout their lives. At the same time they crossed the path of death. Somewhere far away, somewhere else, two identical souls may meet again!
