70-Year-Old Mother Struggles to Bring Back Daughter’s Body from Malaysia

For the past 10 months, 70-year-old Dhanmaya Sarki of Kawasoti Municipality-4, Nawalparasi (Bardaghat Susta purba), has been living in anguish, waiting to bring back the body of her daughter, Tilmaya Sarki, who was murdered in Malaysia.

Tilmaya, 25, had traveled to Malaysia for employment, leaving her six-year-old daughter in her mother’s care after divorcing her husband. The last time she spoke to her mother was on May 8, when she expressed her wish to see her on Mata Tirtha Aunshi. A week later, Dhanmaya received a devastating call informing her that Tilmaya had been murdered. Since then, her life has been filled with grief and uncertainty.

Despite numerous attempts, Tilmaya’s body has not yet been repatriated, nor has the family received any financial relief. For the past 10 months, Dhanmaya has made countless visits to the ward office and municipality, desperately seeking assistance. “I had hoped to see my daughter’s body, but neither the body nor any relief has arrived. I have nowhere else to turn,” she lamented.

Tilmaya’s sister, Neelmaya Sarki, shared her frustration, stating that all required documents were promptly submitted, yet there has been no progress. “We fear that if the body is not returned soon, we might lose the state’s relief assistance as well,” she said. “Even a small financial aid would help in raising her daughter.”

According to Ranjana Lamsal, a consultant at the Safe Migration Center (SaMi Project), the necessary documents were sent to Malaysia to verify the relationship, but the repatriation has been stalled. “The Malaysian Embassy has informed us that without concluding the investigation, sending the body to Nepal could complicate the legal case,” she explained.

Under the Foreign Employment Board’s regulations, an application for financial assistance must be filed within a year of the worker’s death. Tikaram Dhakal, spokesperson for the board, stated that the delay is due to an ongoing legal case against a Pakistani national accused of murdering Tilmaya. “The embassy has informed us that it has been challenging to mobilize the body. Even after identification, the hospital has not yet issued the death certificate, further delaying the process,” he said.

According to the Safe Migration Center, 18 migrant workers from Nawalparasi (East of Bardaghat Susta) have died abroad in the current fiscal year. Among them, the bodies of three individuals, including Tilmaya, are still awaiting repatriation.