‘Bring Khaled back’

Family of Mohammad Khaled Hossain Sajal, who died descending Mount Everest, called upon authorities to bring back his body immediately.

Khaled was the fifth Bangladeshi to scale Mount Everest, but did not live to tell the tale.

At a press conference in capital’s Khilgaon, his wife Tahmina Khan Shoili sobbed while asking for bringing back her husband body.

“There is little time left. His body must be brought back quickly. No one might go there afterwards,”she said.”Before going, he held my hands and promised he will return.”

Family friend Shyama Sharmin said she hoped the government will keep its promise to bring back Khaled’s body.

The 35-year old mountaineer, popularly known as Sajal Khaled after directing a children film, died on May 20 while coming down from the world’s tallest peak.

Meanwhile, Musa Ibrahim, the first Bangladeshi to scale Mt Everest in 2010, also voiced similar feelings to bdnews24.com on Thursday morning.

“He (Khaled) went via Nepal’s Himalayan Guide Private Limited. The agency’s entrepreneur Iswari Poudel said 10 Sherpas were needed to bring back his body.”

Khaled’s body is at the south summit, some 28,750 feet from ground level in the high Himalayas, Ibrahim said.

“Almost $50,000 is needed to bring back his body.”

If such an amount can be managed, his body can be brought down to advanced base camp at 21,000 feet. Then it has to be carried to Katmandhu by helicopter.

“Authorities must confirm by today (Thursday) if his body has to be brought back. Otherwise, it will become difficult to do so after the climbing season ends,” Musa said.

The current climbing season ends on May 31. “Whatever is to be done needs to be done quick.”

“Sajal’s family said they cannot provide the money. It might be possible if his sponsors, Desh TV and Karnaphuli Limited, steps in.”

However, Khaled’s body might come back home ,if Bangladesh government and its embassy in Nepal fails to swing into action.

Source: Bd news24