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DNA tests required to hand over bodies of Cox's Bazar fire victim
Published : Sunday, 18 October, 2026 at 1:34 PM
Observer Online Report
Collected Photo
The bodies of 10 people killed in a fire at the Tuptup Resort in Ukhia, Cox's Bazar, have been kept at the morgue of Cox's Bazar Sadar Hospital, where grieving relatives have gathered to claim them.
However, authorities stated that the remains will not be handed over immediately due to difficulties in confirming identities.
Because the bodies were severely burned, administration officials confirmed that DNA testing will be conducted to establish identities before release.
Subaktagin Mahmud Sohel, Resident Medical Officer (RMO) of Cox's Bazar Sadar Hospital, said preliminary information suggests the identities of six among the ten deceased, though matching specific bodies remains unconfirmed.
Preliminary identifications include Israt Jahan (30) and Milita Mehezabin (23) of Dhaka's Banasree; Laila Jahan (27) and Nafista Mim (27) of Khilgaon; Fariha Kabir (33) of Chuadanga; and five-year-old Fayizan Ahmed. The remaining four victims comprise two women, one child, and one man.
A fire broke out on Saturday morning at the three-storey wooden Tuptup Resort, leaving 10 tourists dead and six others injured. The injured were rushed to Cox's Bazar Sadar Hospital, and four of them were airlifted to Dhaka for advanced treatment on Saturday afternoon, while two received treatment locally.
Deputy Commissioner Md A Mannan stated that because the bodies are badly charred, handing them over to relatives will proceed strictly after DNA profiling confirms identities.
Dewan Faisal, Vice-President of Dhaka District Chhatra Dal, traveled from Dhaka to Cox's Bazar searching for his wife, Nasrin Akter. He said that upon arriving yesterday afternoon, he could not locate her at the resort or visually identify anyone at the hospital due to the condition of the remains, noting that DNA tests are essential for verification. He added that they were married six years ago, and Nasrin worked as a teacher at Swapna Bilash Niribili School in Ashulia.
Additional Superintendent of Police in Cox's Bazar Ahidur Rahman said police learned that a person named Nahidur is missing. While details for six victims are tentatively available, identifying the remaining four requires collecting DNA samples.
Dolon Acharya, Senior Station Officer of Cox's Bazar Fire Service and Civil Defence, said responders initially recovered six bodies and subsequently found four more inside the resort's restrooms. The bodies were severely burned, rendering facial recognition impossible before they were handed over to Ukhia police station.
The six injured individuals are Dr Shihab Uddin (31), his wife Nafiza Newaz Khan (29), Mannan (34), Mehrunnessa (30), Masud (30), and Samida (32). Reports indicate that five of them sustained burns across approximately five percent of their bodies.
-SA
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Phone: PABX- 41053001-06; Advertisement: 41053012; 01793317829, 01550707291, E-mail: [email protected], [email protected] Online: email: [email protected] 41053014; 01550707297 Advertisement: 01550707296
