Safiya was a Bangladeshi nanny who lived in the UAE and tragically died on October 24, 2014 while bravely saving the lives of two young Emirati boys, aged between six and ten from drowningin her care. Safiya rescued the boys from the strong waves and managed to pull the children safely. Sadly during the rescue, she was swept out to sea. Despite the bold efforts of the children’s father who jumped into the water in a bid to save her, Safiya drowned and passed away before the arrival of the emergency services.
Under the directive of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, the Vice President and Prime Minister of the United Arab Emirates (UAE), and Ruler of Dubai, with the support of the UAE Embassy to Bangladesh and the Embassy of Bangladesh to the UAE, Dubai Cares (A UAE based Charity organization), built a school in memory of Safiya’s bravery at Bhata Para in the Sunamgonj district of Bangladesh (the village where Safiya was born and raised.)
To provide the financial assistance to the bereaved family from the UAE government, the UAE Embassy, Dhaka arranged a cheque handling ceremony at the Embassy premises. On the occasion, UAE Ambassador to Bangladesh Saed Mohammed ALMheiri said, ‘‘We express our deepest gratitude for her sacrifice and UAE would always be with the bereaved family.”
Later UAE Ambassador to Bangladesh Saed Mohammed AL Mheiri handed over a cheque, Medal and Certificate to the Safiya’s family for her heroic devotion in UAE
Abdulla Ali AlHmoudi,Deputy Head of Mission of the Embassy, was also present at this moment.