Newlywed Mitu laid to rest with henna-laced hands

Clad in a brown Banarasi saree and with bright henna on her hands, Marzia Akhter Mitu of Naksa village in Khulna’s Koyra Upazila was prepared for a new chapter in her life.

But, on the way to her in-laws’ house in Bagerhat’s Mongla Upazila, dreams of a happy conjugal life shattered in tragedy.

A Navy bus and the microbus carrying Mitu, her husband Abdur Rahman Sabbir, and others of their family crashed head-on, killing 14 people in Bagerhat’s Rampal Upazila on Thursday afternoon.

Mitu’s younger sister Lamia Akhter and their paternal and maternal grandmothers are also among the dead.

Mitu's maternal uncle Abu Taher said: "After their funeral, Mitu, Lamia and my mother Anwara Begum were buried in the graveyard next to their house around noon on Friday."

Mitu's paternal grandmother Rashida Begum was laid to rest in her village home, he said.

Hundreds of people had gathered at the family’s home in Naksa village to see the four bodies. Relatives and neighbours were in mourning.

The bodies of all 14 victims were handed over to the families on Thursday night, said Bagerhat district police chief Hasan Chowdhury.

The family took away the bodies of Sabbir and eight others to Mongla Municipality, while the corpse of the microbus driver was sent to his village home in Bagerhat’s Rampal Upazila.