A family in Kushtia’s Daulatpur upazila was left devastated after losing a 74-year-old freedom fighter and his 20-year-old granddaughter within six hours on Saturday.

The tragic incident took place at Purbapara village under Daulatpur Sadar Union, where the deaths of Fulbas Ali, a freedom fighter, and his granddaughter Munni Khatun left the local community in deep mourning.

Family sources said Fulbas Ali died on Friday afternoon due to old-age complications. His body was buried with state honours at Manikdiar graveyard around 10am on Saturday in the presence of Daulatpur Upazila Assistant Commissioner (Land) Pradeep Kumar Das.

While returning home after attending his father’s burial, Tujam Uddin, son of Fulbas Ali, received the devastating news that his daughter Munni had died while undergoing treatment.

Munni had been deeply shocked by her grandfather’s death. Family members said she had been taking care of him before her marriage and became seriously ill while mourning his death on Friday night. She was taken to Kushtia General Hospital after losing consciousness but died on Saturday morning while preparations were being made to shift her to Rajshahi Medical College Hospital.

Tujam Uddin said his daughter had married Mostaq of Thanapara village in Daulatpur about a year ago. She had been suffering from typhoid and her condition worsened after the shock of losing her grandfather.

Later on Saturday afternoon, Munni was buried beside her grandfather’s grave at the same Manikdiar graveyard.

Relative Saidul Islam said, “I received the news of Munni’s death after returning home from my uncle’s burial. No family should ever have to endure such a tragedy.”

Local residents said they had never witnessed such a heartbreaking incident where a grandfather and granddaughter died on the same day and were buried side by side.