26 Aug 2011
By: DENIS EDWARD
HE CAME here in 2009 to work so he could build a better life for his wife and family back home in Bangladesh.
But in April this year, Mr Rafiq Miah, 29, fractured his left foot while doing road construction work.
Since then, he has been on a Special Pass while awaiting the outcome of his work injury compensation claim.
Just as he was about to return to work earlier this month, he was hit by a second whammy.
This time, it was a case of being in the wrong place at the wrong time.
Mr Rafiq was dining alone at the back of Aliyah’s Restaurant & Catering at Lembu Road in Little India on Aug 14 when a fire broke out.
Ending up with 8 per cent burns to his arms and legs, he was among 11 people injured in the fire and taken to the Singapore General Hospital.
The number of injuries in the blaze, believed to have been caused by an exploding gas tank, is the highest for fires so far this year. (See report on facing page.)
Cursing his bad luck, Mr Rafiq said through an interpreter on Wednesday: “I have no words to describe how I feel. I expected things to get better after the first accident but it just got worse.”
He said that he “enjoys working here” and “likes Singapore very much” – until his work mishap left him on crutches.
His foot fracture happened while he was operating an air breaker (used to hack through concrete).
The fourth child in a family of eight children said his family was forced to take a bank loan because he could not earn money to support them.
“Only one of my brothers (in Bangladesh) works, but he doesn’t earn enough, so my family still depends on me.
“I don’t know how we are going to pay off the bank loan,” said Mr Rafiq, who added that he was unsure of the loan amount.
Can’t sleep
He was relieved when his company, TSW Engineering, offered to pay for his medical and food expenses during his recovery.
When the fire broke out at Aliyah’s, which serves Bangladesh cuisine, Mr Rafiq recalled screaming in pain as he ran out of the burning eatery.
He said: “I felt scared, and I was worried that I could not work for a long time again. I really need to work and earn money for my family.”
Sleep has eluded him since the mishap.
“I can’t sleep. I keep thinking about the fire. I can still recall running out of the burning place and thinking about my family,” said the man.
“I feel so unlucky. I don’t know why bad things keep happening to me.”
Despite his bad experiences, Mr Rafiq wants to continue working here.
“I still like Singapore and I want to work here. I still need to earn money to support my family.”
Doctors have told him that he is likely to make a full recovery, he said.
The owner of Aliyah’s, Mr Sirajul Islam, who visits Mr Rafiq regulary, said: “I feel responsible for his condition. My concern is for him to make a full recovery.”
Email: edenis@sph.com.sg
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