Cox's Bazar resort fire: 10 victims identified using DNA tests

DNA of schoolteacher Nasrin Akter Mukta remains unmatched; bodies to be handed over tomorrow

The identities of 10 people killed in the TupTup Resto and Resort fire in Ukhiya's Patuartek in Cox’s Bazar have been confirmed.

Among those identified were six members of one family and four members of another, both from Dhaka.

Four members of a family are Mohammad Nahidur Rahman, 41, an official of Grand Power Limited in Dhaka’s Shyamoli; his wife, Afsana Matin, 36; and their two daughters, Rozaina Inaya, 9, and Munaina Ihana, 6.

The victims of the other group are Moulita Mehzabin Alvi, 19; her cousins Layla Jahan Nabila, 25 and Israt Jahan Maliha, 27; their cousin Faria Kabir, 33; Faria’s six-year-old son, Mohammad Faizan Noor; and Faria’s brother, Mohammad Nafis Tehami, 24.

They lived in the Banasree and Khilgaon areas of Dhaka.

Nafis Tehami, also known as Jerif, was a student of the Chinese Language and Culture programme at Dhaka University’s Institute of Modern Languages in the 2020-21 academic year.

Moulita Mehzabin Alvi studied Population and Public Health Sciences at East West University, while Layla Jahan Nabila was a student of the chemistry department at Jagannath University.

Criminal Investigation Department (CID) confirmed their identities by conducting DNA tests on their charred bodies and matching them with their relatives.

Rimon Ghosh, the investigating officer in the case, said the bodies would be handed over to their families tomorrow. The authorities would also brief the media on the progress of the investigation.

The fire broke out on October 17 morning at the three-storey resort along the Marine Drive near Patuartek beach in Ukhiya, about 28km from Cox’s Bazar town.

Tourists were staying in eight rooms on the first and second floors, while the ground floor housed a restaurant and staff quarters.

Authorities initially reported recovering 10 bodies from the resort. However, 11 people remained on the missing list, raising questions about the discrepancy between the number of bodies recovered and the number of people reported missing.

A CID official seeking anonymity said the DNA of Nasrin Akter Mukta, 27, was not matched with samples.

Mukta, a teacher at Swapnabilash Niribili School in Ashulia, Savar, came to Cox’s Bazar with her two female friends for a vacation. Her husband, Dewan Faisal, is a former leader of the Dhaka district unit of Jatiyatabadi Chhatra Dal.

Police filed a case against 23 people over the fire, naming resort owner Mohammad Tanvir Sultan Mia as the prime accused.

Tanvir has remained absconding since the incident. Another resort owner, Newaz Morshed, is also reportedly in hiding. Assistant Manager Zahid Hossain is the only person arrested so far, according to police.