Tributes have been paid to a British father and his teenage son who were found dead in a flat in Bangladesh after suspected ‘poisoning’.
Rafiqul Islam, 51, and 16-year-old Mahiqul, along with three other members of their family were found unconscious Tuesday afternoon by the police.
Both died on the way to hospital and his wife, eldest son and daughter are still being treated at Sylhet MAG Osmani Medical College and Hospital (SOMCH).
Husnara, 45, and Samira, 20, remain in critical condition in the intensive care unit (ICU), while Sadiqul, 24, is said to be doing well.
The family, from Riverside in Cardiff, were on holiday with relatives in the countryside for two months and rented a flat in the eastern town of Sylhet.
Farid Uddin, Superintendent of Bangladesh Police, said: “After discussing the general situation with the doctors and inspecting the site, we believe this was a case of poisoning.
“The other people in the building are close relatives of the victims. We questioned them. At this point we think they fell asleep after dinner last night.
“This needs further investigation. How were they poisoned? How did they die? We can confirm that after an investigation.’
Uddin said the family slept in the same room Monday night after dinner.
The next day, around 10 a.m., relatives raised the alarm after hearing no sound from the flat and unsuccessfully trying to open the door.
Supt Uddin continued: ‘After they were taken to the hospital, the father and the youngest son were pronounced dead.
The mother and daughter are in critical condition. They have been transferred to the ICU. The other brother, Sadiqul, is being treated.’
Police are still waiting for the results of the autopsy that has already taken place.
Relatives, including Mr Islam’s mother, brother and sister, have flown to Bangladesh, according to a family friend.
Community members say they are in “complete shock” over the tragedy.
Muhibur Islam, of the Jalalia Mosque and Islamic Education Center, described Mr Islam as “a beloved and respected member of the community.”
He said: ‘It was a complete shock, it hasn’t hit everyone yet.
“Most of us now pray for the remaining members of the family to get through this. All thoughts are focused on survival.
“This is such a terrible tragedy and we are in utter disbelief. We ask everyone to pray for the family.”
Mohammed Haroon, general secretary of the Bangladesh Association Cardiff, said he worked with Mr Islam, who was a taxi driver in Cardiff.
He said: ‘He was a very nice person, a very helpful person who was in the mosque all the time and was constantly working with the community.’
Mr Haroon said Mr Islam was a member of their local badminton and football teams, adding: ‘It is very sad. But I believe the eldest son is doing very well now, he is talking.
“His (Mr Islam’s) daughter is still critical and his wife is not yet out of danger.”
A spokesman for the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office said: “We are providing consular assistance to a British family following an incident in Bangladesh and are in contact with local authorities.”
Riverside Labor Councilor Kanaya Singh told Wales Online: ‘This is clearly a worrying and tragic event.
“Everyone I’ve spoken to in the community speaks highly of the family and our thoughts are with them.
“There is also a lot of concern because many people from Riverside go to Bangladesh regularly.”
Contact our news team by sending an email to: [email protected].
For more stories like this, check our news page.