Bangladeshi Mother and Son Shared an Unbreakable Bond, Daughter Says in Emotional Tribute After Al Ain Cremation.
Abu Dhabi: Anushua Biswas, a 22-year-old Bangladeshi expatriate, has shared her grief over the loss of her mother and younger brother in a tragic road accident in Abu Dhabi on Monday night. She also spoke about her father’s remarkable survival, which relatives and friends have described as nothing short of a miracle.
Anushua paid an emotional tribute to her mother, Ashima Chowdhury, 48, and brother, Aritra Biswas, 15, after she and her father, Sree Swarup Kanti Biswas, 59, bid them a final farewell on Friday.
The mother and son were cremated at the Cemetery for Non-Muslims in Al Foah, Al Ain. According to Anushua, around 80 mourners gathered to pay their last respects.
A speeding vehicle reportedly rammed into the family’s car from behind at around 9pm near Al Wathba Bridge on Al Ain Road as they were travelling to a community gathering. The Bangladesh Embassy in Abu Dhabi subsequently confirmed the identities of the deceased.
Anushua, a fourth-year psychology student at a Dubai university, was at home when the tragedy struck. Speaking to Gulf News following the cremation in Al Ain on Friday, she said she and her father are now finding comfort in the cherished memories of their loved ones.
Father’s miraculous survival
Anushua’s father, an engineer who runs an electrical and plumbing business, was behind the wheel when the accident occurred. Although initial reports suggested he had sustained injuries and spent a day in hospital, Anushua clarified that he escaped unharmed and was admitted only as a precaution.
“Doctors wanted to check for head trauma, so he underwent scans and X-rays, all of which were clear. He had only mild back pain and was given paracetamol. He was admitted at night and discharged in less than 24 hours,” she explained.
While her father has recovered physically, the emotional toll has been devastating.
“Physically, he is perfectly fine. Mentally, not good,” Anushua said.
She described how her father frequently breaks down while remembering everyday moments with Aritra, including the times his son would ask him for money to buy chocolates when he returned from work.
“He is crying here and there and initially blamed himself though the accident was not his fault. I told him, if you blame yourself, then there is no point,” she said.
For relatives and friends, his survival has been extraordinary.
“Everyone is saying it was miraculous,” Anushua said.
A mother’s devotion and dreams
Remembering her mother, Anushua said Ashima had devoted herself to helping her daughter build a successful future.
“She took my dream and made it her mission to fulfil,” she recalled.
Ashima, who worked at a travel agency, was determined to make her daughter independent, teaching her everything from dealing with people to preparing meals.
“She used to go to work, come back home and cook. She was really hard-working and very selfless,” Anushua said.
With her workplace just a minute away from home, Ashima would often return during her lunch break to prepare freshly cooked meals for the family before heading back to work. She would cook again in the evening.
Beyond her dedication to her family, Ashima was known for her cheerful personality and generosity. She loved singing at gatherings and preparing meals for guests, taking special care to remember everyone’s favourite dishes.
A deeply spiritual woman, Ashima also devoted an hour each day to chanting. According to Anushua, she was carrying her chanting bag when the accident happened.
During pujas, Ashima would make it a point to serve prasad and sweets first to bachelors living away from their families in the UAE, before distributing them to children.
“She was good at everything. At work, at home, at social events. She was like God in my eyes. I am pretty sure I will never reach that level,” Anushua said, remembering her mother’s extraordinary dedication to everything she did.
A brother’s world revolved around his mother
Aritra, a Grade 8 student at Future Leaders International Private School Branch 2, required additional support but had always studied in a mainstream school.
According to Anushua, their mother was the centre of his world, caring for his every need and sharing a bond with him that words could scarcely describe.
“He did not understand the concept of any higher power. For him, whoever he worshipped was my mum. My brother only used to follow my mum. Whenever we took family photos, she would keep him next to her,” she recalled.
Although academics were not his strongest area, Aritra possessed an exceptional memory that frequently amazed those around him.
“Not everybody is educationally gifted. Aritra was like that. But he was known for his remarkable memory,” Anushua said.
He could name countries, their capitals and currencies, identify family friends’ vehicles by their registration numbers, and recite multiplication tables up to 20 as early as Grade 1 or 2.
“He was a child who always surprised us,” she said.
Anushua also remembered her brother’s innocence and unquestioning generosity.
“If you asked him for Dh10 and he had it in his pocket, he would give it to you. He would not ask why or when you would give it back. He was a pure soul, so innocent.”
Finding comfort in their togetherness
Amid the overwhelming grief, Anushua draws some solace from believing that her mother and brother, who were inseparable in life, remained together until the very end.
“People always say we come alone and we go alone, but they were lucky. They came alone, but they went together. In fact, my brother came from my mother and went with her. They proved their love by leaving together. Now we have to prove our bond by staying together,” she said, referring to herself and her father.
She also finds comfort in a deeply personal belief that her mother’s spiritual strength somehow protected her father while keeping her brother by her side.
“My mother was a spiritual person. Everyone is saying that spiritual people have some kind of power. Exactly like that, she took my brother and saved my dad. She saved him because she wanted him to stay for me and she took my brother as she knew it would have been difficult for us to handle him once she goes. I would like to believe it that way.”
Returning to a home filled with memories
Following the tragedy, Anushua and her father spent three days at a family friend’s residence in Baniyas. On Friday evening, they were preparing to return to their Abu Dhabi home, where the absence of their loved ones would be felt most deeply.
Despite the unbearable loss, Anushua is determined to face each new day with hope, believing that time will gradually help them cope with their grief.
“Today was the worst day because we had to see them burn and we are going home without them. But tomorrow will be a better day, and the day after tomorrow will be a better day. I must think positive like that to go on in life,” she said.
She added that their immediate priority had been to perform the last rites for their loved ones. The family would turn its attention to legal matters arising from the accident in the coming days, once the remaining rituals were completed.
