Saudi Factory Fire Kills 17 Bangladeshi Workers

At least 17 Bangladeshi migrant workers were killed in a fire at a sofa factory in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia on monday. According to the Ministry of Expatriates’ Welfare and Overseas Employment, Saudi rescue teams recovered the bodies from inside the factory. The victims include 10 residents of Atrai upazila in Naogaon and three from Naldanga upazila in Natore.

The 10 victims from Naogaon were identified as Kali (30), Lutfar (32), Jandar, Rubel, Sagar of Bisha area, Majidul, Shubho of Dubai area, Suman, Jalal of Parkasunda village, and Md Farid Sheikh of Udanpai village, all from Kalikapur Union. The three victims from Natore were identified as Shamim Hossain of Dighir Par village, Sabbir Hossain of Sripur village, and Rabiul Auwal of Mahishdanga village.

Authorities said the bodies were severely burned, making identification difficult. The fire broke out at around 3:30pm Bangladesh time and spread rapidly. The victims had migrated to Saudi Arabia for work. Bangladesh Embassy officials in Riyadh and Saudi authorities are continuing rescue and identification efforts. Families in Bangladesh are awaiting confirmation of their relatives’ identities. The death toll may rise further.