Dream of Eid with mother shattered as four Bangladeshi brothers found dead inside car in Oman

The brothers’ elderly mother remains unaware that four of her sons died together

An Eid-ul-Azha reunion awaited a Chattogram family this Friday, as two brothers working in Oman prepared to return home -- but the journey ended in shock when all four siblings were found dead inside a car.

Instead, all four died together inside their vehicle at Oman’s Muladdah, in what police suspect may have been caused by poisoning from toxic gas.

The deaths have plunged their home in Bandar Raja Para of Rangunia’s Lalanagar Union into mourning.

The victims -- Rashedul Islam, Sahedul Islam, Mohammad Siraj and Mohammad Shahid -- were sons of the late Mohammad Hasan.

Of the five brothers, Mohammad Enam lives at the ancestral home with their elderly mother.

Rashed and Sahed were married, with their families also living in Rangunia.

Sahed had moved to Oman only seven months ago after getting married.

According to expatriate Bangladeshis in Oman, the four brothers left Barka for Muladdah on Wednesday evening.

After 8pm, one of them sent a voice message to a relative saying they were feeling unwell. He reportedly also shared their location, saying they were too weak to even get out of the car.

Later, locals spotted the brothers unconscious inside a parked car outside a clinic in Muladdah and alerted police.

Officers broke open the vehicle and recovered the bodies.

Omani police suspect toxic gas inside the vehicle may have caused the deaths, though they are awaiting a full postmortem report for confirmation.

Local journalist Mohammad Ismail said the brothers had built a two-storey house in Lalanagar two years ago, where Enam now lives with their mother and other family members.

“The entire family has been devastated,” he said. “Their elderly mother was already ill. She has not been told that four of her sons are dead.”

He said relatives and neighbours had gathered at the house since morning, but Enam had spoken to no one and was not allowing anyone inside, fearing the news could worsen his mother’s condition.

Doctors had reportedly been called twice. Enam said the family was struggling to process the tragedy.

“My two younger brothers were supposed to return home on Friday,” he said. “We heard they had gone shopping before travelling. We hoped they would celebrate Eid with our mother. But fate did not allow that.”

Neighbour and Siraj’s friend Sakibul Islam said Siraj and Shahid had planned to return home for Eid, and wedding discussions for Siraj and Enam were expected after their arrival.

Mohammad Yasin Chowdhury, president of the Chattogram Association in Oman, said embassy officials were present during discussions at the hospital.

Preliminary findings suggest poisoning from air-conditioner gas inside the car.

The bodies may be sent to Bangladesh on Monday or Tuesday after formalities are completed, he said.