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In a heartbreaking turn of events that has shaken the British-Bangladeshi community, the body of Nafizul Haque Shakil, a promising young student who lost his life in a tragic road accident in East London, is set to be flown back to Bangladesh this Friday. The repatriation comes amidst a devastating "double tragedy" for the family in Kanaighat, Sylhet, as Shakil’s father, Fazlul Haque, passed away from a massive heart attack just days ago after receiving the news of his son’s fatal condition.
Funeral and Repatriation Schedule
The East London Mosque has confirmed the final rites for the deceased student. The Namaz-e-Janazah for Nafizul Haque Shakil will be performed tomorrow, Thursday, February 5, immediately following the Dhuhr prayer at 12:45 PM. Community members and well-wishers wishing to pay their final respects can view the body between 11:00 AM and 12:00 PM at the Maryam Centre (ground floor) of the mosque complex.
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Following the religious services in London, the body is scheduled to be flown to Bangladesh on a Biman Bangladesh Airlines flight this Friday. The coffin will arrive in his native village in Brahman Gram, Gachbari Union, under the Kanaighat Upazila of Sylhet, where a grieving mother and three sisters wait to bury the only son of the family.
A Dream Crushed on Commercial Road
The accident that ultimately claimed Shakil’s life occurred on January 14 on Commercial Road in East London. Shakil, a dedicated Computer Science student at London South Bank University, was working as a part-time food delivery rider to support his education and his family back home. Eyewitnesses and police reports indicate a harrowing sequence of events: the door of a parked private car suddenly swung open, knocking Shakil off his bicycle. As he fell onto the road, a speeding lorry coming from behind struck him, causing catastrophic injuries.
He was rushed to the trauma unit of the Royal London Hospital, where he fought for his life for five days. Despite the tireless efforts of medical staff, he succumbed to his injuries on the night of January 19. The incident has once again highlighted the perilous conditions for delivery riders and cyclists on London's busy thoroughfares, sparking fresh calls for road safety awareness.
Father Dies of a Broken Heart
While the community in London prayed for Shakil’s recovery, a second tragedy was unfolding in Bangladesh. Shakil was the eldest son and the beacon of hope for his family. Upon hearing the news of his son’s critical accident and subsequent death, his father, Fazlul Haque, suffered a severe cardiac arrest. He passed away before he could see his son’s face one last time.
The death of the father has compounded the grief of the surviving family members. The family, who had sent their son abroad with hopes of a brighter future, is now preparing to receive his coffin while the soil on his father’s grave is still fresh. This heart-wrenching narrative of a "dream migration" turning into a dual funeral has left the expatriate community in the UK and the locals in Kanaighat in deep mourning.
