Fire Tears Through Sofa Factory in Saudi Capital
At least 16 Bangladeshi migrant workers have been killed in a devastating factory fire in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
The blaze erupted at a sofa manufacturing facility on Sunday, August 9, according to Bangladesh’s Ministry of Expatriates’ Welfare and Overseas Employment.
Bangladeshi officials said the fire occurred at a factory in an industrial area of the Saudi capital.
A ministry notification cited local fire service personnel as saying the blaze broke out at around 2pm local time.
All 16 victims were reported to have died at the scene. Rescue operations were still continuing when Bangladeshi authorities issued their initial notification.
Witnesses cited in the notification said all those killed were Bangladeshi nationals.
Authorities are still working with Saudi officials to complete identification and other official procedures.
The exact cause of the fire has not yet been publicly confirmed.
There was also no immediate detailed statement from Saudi authorities explaining how the blaze started or whether other workers were injured.
Victims Came From Naogaon, Natore and Rajshahi
Bangladesh’s government said the workers killed in the tragedy came from Naogaon, Natore and Rajshahi districts.
An updated notification carried by The Daily Star identified 13 victims from Naogaon, two from Natore and one from Rajshahi.
Other Bangladeshi reports gave slightly different district-level figures while identification work was continuing, highlighting that some details were still being confirmed on Monday morning.
Officials from the Bangladesh Embassy in Riyadh travelled to the scene following the incident.
The embassy is working closely with Saudi authorities to identify the deceased and complete procedures required to return their bodies to Bangladesh.
Bangladesh’s Expatriates’ Welfare and Overseas Employment Minister Ariful Haque Chowdhury expressed deep sorrow over the deaths.
He described the loss of migrant workers who had travelled abroad in search of employment as deeply painful.
The minister also highlighted the major contribution expatriate workers make to Bangladesh’s economy.
Authorities have instructed relevant officials to speed up the repatriation process.
The government has also promised assistance and efforts to secure appropriate compensation for the victims’ families.
Bangladesh Embassy Coordinates Emergency Response
Bangladesh’s Foreign Ministry said it is closely monitoring developments following the deadly fire.
Officials said diplomatic representatives are maintaining contact with Saudi authorities and providing assistance where required.
The tragedy has once again highlighted the large Bangladeshi migrant workforce in Saudi Arabia.
Around 3.5 million Bangladeshi citizens are estimated to live and work in the Kingdom, making Saudi Arabia the largest overseas destination for workers from Bangladesh.
Many Bangladeshi migrants work in construction, factories and other labour-intensive industries.
Their earnings remain an important source of foreign currency for Bangladesh.
Bangladeshi migrant workers sent more than $2.7 billion in remittances from Saudi Arabia last year, according to figures cited in reports on the incident.
For the families of the 16 victims, attention is now focused on formal identification, repatriation and compensation.
Authorities are also awaiting further information from Saudi officials about the cause of one of the deadliest recent workplace fires involving Bangladeshi expatriate workers in the Kingdom.
