Srinagar, Nov 6 (KNS): The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) has initiated steps to facilitate the repatriation of the mortal remains of Adnan Altaf, a Kashmiri student who reportedly died in a drowning incident in Bangladesh, following an urgent intervention by the Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister's Office.

Official correspondence accessed by KNS reveals that the Assistant High Commission of India in Chittagong is closely monitoring the matter and coordinating with the deceased student's family to ensure that his mortal remains are brought back to Jammu and Kashmir at the earliest.

In an email dated November 5, the Bangladesh-Myanmar Division of the Ministry of External Affairs informed the Jammu and Kashmir Resident Commission in New Delhi that the Indian mission was extending necessary assistance to the bereaved family.

"In this regard, it is informed that the Assistant High Commission, Chittagong is closely monitoring the matter and is in touch with the family of the deceased student," the MEA communication stated.

"AHC, Chittagong is extending all necessary support and facilitation to the family to carry out the repatriation of the mortal remains of Late Adnan Altaf at the earliest," it added.

The response came after the Jammu and Kashmir Resident Commission formally approached the Ministry of External Affairs on November 5, seeking urgent intervention with the authorities in Bangladesh.

According to the official documents, the matter was initially brought to the attention of the Chief Minister's Public Services and Outreach Office (Raabita) by Mohd Akbar Dar, a resident of Botingoo in Sopore, Baramulla district.

In a communication dated November 4, the Chief Minister's Secretariat informed the Resident Commissioner that Adnan Altaf, a student of Eastern Medical College in Bangladesh, had died in a drowning incident.

The family had approached the Chief Minister's outreach office seeking government intervention to bring the student's body back to Jammu and Kashmir.Click Here To Follow Our WhatsApp Channel

The communication, issued by Under Secretary Imtiyaz Ahmad Lone, JKAS, requested the Resident Commissioner to take up the matter with the concerned authorities for early repatriation.

Significantly, the Chief Minister's office marked the case as "MOST URGENT", underlining the need for immediate action.

Acting on the request, the Jammu and Kashmir Resident Commission in New Delhi forwarded the correspondence and supporting documents to the Additional Secretary, Bangladesh-Myanmar Division, Ministry of External Affairs, on November 5.

The Resident Commission requested the ministry to take up the matter with the authorities in Bangladesh and sought early action to facilitate the return of the mortal remains.

The communication was also copied to the Private Secretary to the Chief Minister for information.

The MEA responded the same day, confirming that the Assistant High Commission in Chittagong was already in contact with the family and was providing assistance for repatriation.

The sequence of official communications shows that the matter was taken up by the Chief Minister's outreach office on November 4, formally referred to the Ministry of External Affairs on November 5 and acknowledged by the ministry later that day.

The correspondence, however, does not specify when the mortal remains are expected to reach Jammu and Kashmir or whether the necessary repatriation formalities have been completed.

The exact circumstances surrounding the drowning incident are also not detailed in the official documents.

The Ministry of External Affairs has assured that the Indian mission in Bangladesh is extending the necessary support to facilitate the process at the earliest. (KNS)