A call for justice and transparency: The Death of Nandita still a mystery at Saskatoon city in Canada

Sangram Datta: The tragic and mysterious death of Nandita Bhattacharya Munmun, a Bangladeshi immigrant staying at Saskatoon city in Canada, has left her family and the wider community in deep shock. A woman known for her ambition, education, and commitment to work, Munmun’s sudden death under suspicious circumstances raises several troubling questions that remain unanswered.

Nandita Bhattacharya Munmun hailed from Purbasha Residential Area of Sreemangal Upazilla Town under Moulvibazar district in Bangladesh. She was previously employed at Prime Bank’s Sreemangal branch before she immigrated to Canada in 2022 with her husband Anup Bhattacharya. After settling in Saskatoon city of Saskatchewan province in Canada, Munmun began working at the Heritage Inn Hotel & Convention Centre.

On 15 October 2024, Munmun went to work as usual. According to reports, her husband dropped her off at the hotel in the morning. By late afternoon, when he returned to pick her up, he was informed by hotel staff and police that Munmun had allegedly fallen from the rooftop of the six-story hotel building and died on the spot.

The circumstances around her death remain unclear. There was no surveillance footage showing her movement to the rooftop, which was reportedly not accessible to general staff or guests. There were also reports that her purse and essential belongings were missing, adding to the suspicion.

According to sources of victim's husband Anup Bhattacharya, Saskatoon Police confirmed her death but did not label it clearly as a suicide, accident, or homicide. The lack of transparency and slow progress in the investigation have raised concerns within the local Bangladeshi community. Family members in Bangladesh and friends in Canada are demanding a thorough and independent investigation.

No known personal issues or mental health struggles were reported by her family that might explain such a tragic event. The absence of solid evidence and the missing CCTV footage have intensified suspicions about possible foul play.

It's also learnt 650 CKOM reported stating that a union president is questioning the circumstances surrounding the death of a hotel replacement worker in October, and asking what safety training and protocols are in place at the hotel after the woman died on the job.

Lucy Figueiredo, president of United Food and Commercial Workers (UFCW) Local 1400, said employees have been locked out for more than a year after contract talks with hotel management broke down. Since then, replacement workers have been brought in to staff the hotel.

According Figueiredo, one of those replacements, a female housekeeper, fell to her death from the roof of the Saskatoon Heritage Inn & Convention Centre on Oct. 15. Figueiredo said the death was confirmed by a picketing worker who had been in contact with some of the replacement workers.

“I made some efforts to reach out to anyone who knew the family so that I could offer some help and support,” said Figueiredo.

“It wasn’t until October 25th that I was able to meet with the surviving family members and really try to help them navigate any benefits that they would be entitled to as a result of a workplace fatality.”

Figueiredo said a lot of questions remain about what happened to the worker, who had recently come to Canada from Bangladesh, along with her family. She said she did not want to disclose the name of the woman publicly.

“We reached out to Occupational Health and Safety on the 31st to try to get some clarity over what happened, and Occupational Health and Safety informed us at that time that they had never been previously notified of the death,” she said.

Figueiredo said an Occupational Health and Safety officer has since been assigned to look into the death.

The head of a local union says there are still many unanswered questions about the worker’s death.

In a short statement, Saskatchewan’s labour ministry confirmed that it is aware of the death.

UFCW also stated that for the next ten days, the management of the hotel refused to answer any of the family’s phone calls, as they looked for information about the incident, and looked for assistance on how to access any benefits the family is entitled to. The family contacted UFCW 1400 on 25 October 2024 to obtain support with the process and to represent the family in conversations with the employer.

In addition, as of 31 October 2024, the employer has not reported this fatality to Occupational Health and Safety and is now under investigation. The fatality was not reported to the Saskatchewan Workers’ Compensation Board until November 1, two weeks after the incident.

Munmun’s mysterious death is a painful reminder of the vulnerabilities faced by immigrants in foreign country. Her tragic end continues to haunt her loved ones and the wider diaspora, who are still searching for answers and justice.

As of now, the case remains open, and many hope that Canadian authorities will take the matter seriously and unearth the truth behind Nandita Bhattacharya Munmun’s untimely death.