All 10 bodies in Cox’s Bazar resort blaze identified through DNA

The Criminal Investigation Department (CID) of Police has identified through DNA profiling all 10 victims who perished in the devastating fire at Tuptup Resto and Resort in Inani along the Marine Drive in Ukhiya.

The deceased belonged to two families from Dhaka, comprising six members of one household and four of another. However, the mystery surrounding an eleventh tourist Nasrin Akhter Mukta, 27, remains unresolved, as her family's DNA samples did not match any of the recovered remains.

Police confirmed that the 10 bodies will be handed over to their respective families on Tuesday.

Sub-Inspector Rimon Ghosh, the investigating officer of the case, said: "We have received the DNA test reports for all 10 victims. Their bodies will be formally handed over to the families on Tuesday, and the media will be briefed on investigative progress."

Six of the deceased, hailing from Dhaka’s Banasree and Khilgaon areas, are: Moulita Mehzabin Alvi, 19, a population and public health sciences student at East West University; Laila Jahan Nabila, 25, a chemistry student at Jagannath University; Ishrat Jahan Maliha, 27; Faria Kabir, 33; her six-year-old son Mohammad Faizan Noor; and her brother Mohammad Nafis Tehami Zerif, 24, a Chinese language and culture student at Dhaka University's Institute of Modern Languages.

The remaining four victims, from the same family in Dhaka's Shyamoli, are Mohammad Nahidur Rahman, 41, an official at Grand Power Limited; his wife Afsana Motin, 36; and their two minor daughters, Rozaina Inaya, 9, and Munaina Ihana, 6.

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The remaining four victims, from the same family in Dhaka's Shyamoli, are Mohammad Nahidur Rahman, 41, an official at Grand Power Limited; his wife Afsana Motin, 36; and their two minor daughters, Rozaina Inaya, 9, and Munaina Ihana, 6.

Addressing the missing woman, IO Rimon Ghosh noted: "DNA samples from the recovered remains showed no match with the profile of missing tourist Nasrin Akhter Mukta."

Mukta, a teacher at Swapnabilas Niribili School in Ashulia, Savar, had travelled to Cox's Bazar with two female friends. She is the wife of Dewan Faisal, former Dhaka district Chhatra Dal leader.

The fire broke out on the morning of 17 October at the three-storey eco-resort, constructed primarily of wood and bamboo near Patuartek beach. Guests were staying on the upper two floors while the ground floor housed the restaurant and staff quarters.

Ukhiya police filed a case against 23 individuals, naming resort owner Mohammad Tanvir Sultan Mia as the prime accused. Tanvir and co-owner Newaz Morshed remain absconding, while assistant manager Zahid Hossain has been arrested.