Daulatdia tragedy: JU student Raiyan, mother, nephew laid to rest

Ahnaf Tahmid Khan Rayyan was a post-graduate student of economics, a relative says

Jahangirnagar University student Ahnaf Tahmid Khan Rayyan, his mother and nephew, who died in a bus accident at Daulatdia Ferry Dock in Rajbari, have been buried side by side.

After their funeral at Bhabanipur in Rajbari town at 11:30am on Thursday, they were laid to rest at a local graveyard.

On Wednesday afternoon, a Dhaka-bound Showhardo Paribahan bus that had set off from Kumarkhali in Kushtia drove off the pontoon into the Padma River while waiting to board a ferry. A total of 26 bodies have been recovered so far following the accident.

Among them were Rehena Akhtar, 61, from the Rajbari Municipality, her son Raiyan, 25, and her seven-year-old grandson Tajbid, who was identified by a single name.

Their bodies were brought to the family’s house in Bhabanipur that night and kept in the front yard.

Relatives and neighbours were seen wailing on the house premises on Thursday morning. Locals thronged there to comfort them.

Raiyan's relative Faruq Hossain said, "He was a post-graduate student of economics. He was not only a brilliant student, but a competent debater.

Stating that Raiyan had started debating in schools, Faruq said: “He dreamt of spreading the light of logic, intelligence, and awareness through debate. But the Padma tragedy shattered that dream.”

According to Faruq, Raiyan was also involved in social initiatives, including the road safety movement.

Saad Ahammed Saadi said Rayyan had come home for the Eid holidays.

“He was returning to Dhaka after spending quality time with his family, with his mother, sister and nephew,” said Saadi.

"All of four them were inside the bus when it sank. Rayyan's sister Nusrat Jahan Khan managed to get out somehow. But the three, along with several others, were trapped inside and died."