Killed in Lebanon, laid to rest in Faridpur: Dipali's body repatriated after a month
Dipali was killed on 8 April when an Israeli airstrike reportedly struck the residence of her employer in Beirut’s Hamra area
The long, agonising journey of Dipali Akter, a Bangladeshi migrant worker killed in an Israeli airstrike in Lebanon, ended this morning (8 May) as she was laid to rest in the soil of her ancestral home in Faridpur.
Her remains were buried at 10am in Char Shalepur village, Char Harirampur union, following a funeral prayer attended by local officials and grieving family and neighbours.
Dipali's coffin reached her remote village earlier this morning on a horse carriage, sparking scenes of grief as family members and neighbours broke into tears.
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The 34-year-old was the sole breadwinner for her family, and her loss has left them emotionally and financially devastated.
Dipali went abroad in 2015 and worked in a household in Lebanon. According to family members, she used to send money home through a nearby shop.
Her body had arrived at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport in Dhaka late last night on a flight from Beirut.
State Minister for Foreign Affairs Shama Obaed Islam received the remains on behalf of the government, handing them over to the family around midnight after the completion of official formalities.
Dipali was killed on 8 April when an Israeli airstrike reportedly struck the residence of her employer in Beirut's Hamra area.
According to the Bangladesh Embassy in Beirut, her employer and several members of that family also perished in the attack.
The repatriation of her remains took nearly a month due to the immense logistical challenges posed by the ongoing conflict in the Middle East, said State Minister Shama Obaed.
Speaking at the airport, the state minister announced that the Wage Earners' Welfare Board is providing Tk13 lakh in financial assistance to the bereaved family.
"We know that no amount of money can bring Dipali back, yet it is our duty to stand by this grieving family," she said, reaffirming that the safety of Bangladeshi migrants in the Middle East remains the government's top priority.
Dipali, who first travelled to Lebanon in 2015, had dedicated her life to providing for her family.
Her elderly father, Sheikh Mofazzel -- who had already lost his wife to a lightning strike a few years ago -- is now left to mourn the daughter who was his strength. He has reportedly been losing consciousness repeatedly after hearing of Dipali's death.
Dipali is survived by her father, three sisters, and two brothers.
