Missing in Malaysia for 12 years, body found nine months after death

Amiruzzaman, son of Nazim Uddin of Panchgachi Union in Pirganj Upazila of Rangpur, left his wife and children in 2008 in search of work, hoping for a little prosperity and happiness in his family. After working for a few years, he went missing in Malaysia 12 years ago. When he died nine months ago, his body was preserved in a hospital freezer in Malaysia. On Saturday, his body was brought from Malaysia and buried in Paikan village of Panchgachi Union of the upazila.

His body was brought to Bangladesh by air on Friday. He died of a heart attack in a Malaysian hospital on November 14, 2024.

According to family and local sources, Amiruzzaman was the second child among 3 brothers and 3 sisters. After moving to Malaysia, the family had regular contact with him until 2013, but contact with his family stopped after 2014. No one could say why or for what reason the contact was stopped. His elderly mother, brothers and sisters, wife and only son were overwhelmed with grief after not being able to contact him. They assumed that Amiruzzaman had died.

Amiruzzaman died of a heart attack in a Malaysian hospital on November 14, 2024, and the police there informed the Bangladesh Embassy in Malaysia on November 17. Nine months after his death, Amiruzzaman's wife Rikta Begum was informed of his death by mobile phone from the Bangladesh Embassy. The body was brought back to the country by air last Friday and was buried on Saturday morning after a funeral service in Paikan village, Panchgachhi Union, Amiruzzaman's home village.

Amiruzzaman's wife Rikta Begum said, "I was married to my husband for only 4 years. Then he went abroad. He didn't contact me after 2014. I didn't understand the family at all, and after 17 years I found my husband's body! I hope no one has a fate like mine."