Hasina to marry off girl orphaned in fire incident

DHAKA - In a unique gesture, Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina will Wednesday host the wedding of a girl who lost most of her relatives in a major fire that killed 118 people last week.

The ‘gaye halud’, a pre-wedding ritual, was performed for Sakina Aktar Ratna Tuesday as Ganobhaban, the prime minister’s official residence, got ready for a solemn and simple ceremony.

Ratna lost almost her entire family to the deadly fire that broke out at her home in Nimtali of Old Dhaka Thursday. Her younger sister, Runa, was set to be engaged that evening.

Hearing of the sisters’ plight, Hasina announced that she would herself take over the responsibility of their mother who died in the blaze.

Ratna was earlier scheduled to marry June 22. The wedding date of Runa will be fixed after her groom’s elder brother returns from abroad, The Daily Star said quoting officials from the prime minister’s office.

“The family members of Ratna and her groom Saidur Rahman Suman have agreed to their wedding Wednesday afternoon at Gonobhaban,” Deena Haq, director general of the prime minister’s office, said.

“The family members and relatives of Runa’s groom Jamil have also agreed to their marriage,” he said.

Jamil is prepared to commit the marriage in writing. But having lost many relatives in the fire, he would like to await his father’s return from abroad and go through the 30-day mourning period.

The decision was made when both Ratna and Runa, along with their grooms and surviving family members met the prime minister.