Four members of a family from Jashore have been missing since a fire broke out at Tuptup Resto and Resort in Inani, Ukhiya, Cox's Bazar, yesterday (17 October) that killed 10 people.
Those missing are Nahidur Rahman, 41, his wife Afsana Matin Tanji, 36, and their two daughters, Rujaina Inaya, 7, and Sunaina Ihana, 3. Nahidur is the son of Matiar Rahman of Mohonpur village in Manirampur municipality of Jashore.
Nahidur worked at Grand Power Limited, an organisation based in Shyamoli, Dhaka. He lived with his family in Shewrapara.
Relatives have been unable to contact the family since the fire, raising fears that they may be among the unidentified bodies recovered from the resort. As of midnight, their whereabouts remained unknown.
Nahidur's elder brother, Zahidur Rahman Prince, who lives in Manirampur municipal town, shared a photograph of the resort booking bill with The Business Standard via WhatsApp.
According to the bill, Nahidur on 11 October booked a room at the resort from Friday (16 October) to today. The family was scheduled to check out at 1pm today.
Zahidur said his brother had told him about the trip.
After learning about the fire yesterday, he repeatedly called Nahidur but could not reach him or any other family member. He set out for Cox's Bazar himself yesterday evening.
"We are two brothers. Our mother is no longer alive, and our sick father lives with us in the village. He still does not know what happened to Nahidur," Zahidur said.
He added that Nahidur lived in Dhaka with his homemaker wife and usually visited their village during holidays or festivals.
"We have not been able to confirm whether they are alive or dead. We are worried about them," he said.
Nahidur was a student in the second batch of the Department of Criminology and Police Science at Mawlana Bhashani Science and Technology University.
Cox's Bazar Additional Superintendent of Police Ahidur Rahman said authorities have received information that a person named Nahid is missing, but he could not confirm details about the other family members.
He said authorities have obtained information about the identities of six missing people, while four others remain unidentified.
DNA samples are being collected to establish the identities of the recovered bodies, the police officer added. The four unidentified victims are suspected to be members of Nahidur's family.
News of the family's disappearance spread across Manirampur last night, prompting people from different walks of life to share their photographs on Facebook and express sympathy.
Earlier yesterday, the fire at Tuptup Resto and Resort along the Marine Drive in Ukhiya killed 10 people. Six of the victims were members of the same family.
Police and fire service officials said the fire started at around 6:30am and was brought under control at around 8:30am after two hours of efforts.