Lorry accident victim father of six-year-old; family still in shock

The welder's brother in Bangladesh says he described Singapore as a safe place to work

- Kok Yufeng

Even though they were almost 3,000km apart, six-year-old Saima Islam was comforted by her father's voice every day.

Employed as a welder in Singapore, he would call his family in Bangladesh after the day's work was done.

But the night of Dec 14, 2024, was the last time they heard from him. Mr Shohag Mohammad, 40, was killed in an accident while travelling in the back of a lorry in Tuas the next morning.

Since then, Saima has been asking why her father has stopped calling home, said Mr Shohag's brother, Mr Mohammad Siraj.

Speaking to The Straits Times via a translator, Mr Siraj said the family is still in shock.

The phone call they received on Dec 15, from Mr Shohag's employer, CK2 Engineering, telling them that he had died in a lorry accident, was a bolt from the blue.

Describing Mr Shohag as generous, respectful and loving, Mr Siraj, 55, who works as a mechanic, said his brother would describe Singapore as a safe place to work and say he never had any issues here.

Besides his young daughter, Mr Shohag leaves his wife, Sarida, who is in her 20s; his mother, who is in her late 70s; and four other family members, all living in Munshiganj district, about an hour away from Bangladesh's capital city Dhaka.

Mr Siraj said the money that Mr Shohag sent home - about 40,000 taka (S$450) a month - was important as it helped to pay for the family's daily expenses.

"We miss him a lot," Mr Siraj said, adding that the worry now is for the future of Mr Shohag's daughter.