16 Bangladeshis killed factory fire in Saudi Arabia

Sixteen Bangladeshi workers perished in a fire at a sofa manufacturing plant in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. This tragic incident has prompted Bangladesh to request the prompt repatriation of the deceased workers' bodies and compensation for their families. The fire erupted on Sunday at a facility used for upholstery in the Saudi capital.

The Bangladesh foreign ministry expressed shock over the loss of 16 of its citizens, confirming the deaths on Monday. Saudi Arabia's Civil Defence reported that firefighters extinguished the blaze at an unlicensed premises being used for furniture upholstery. However, the agency did not provide casualty figures or further details about the circumstances surrounding the fire.

The Bangladesh government's Expatriates' Welfare and Overseas Employment Minister, Ariful Haque Chowdhury, confirmed that officials are communicating with Saudi authorities through the embassy in Riyadh to ensure the bodies are repatriated promptly and to secure compensation for the victims' families. Meanwhile, Bangladesh Prime Minister Tarique Rahman also expressed shock over the deaths and offered condolences to the families.

It has been reported that Saudi Arabia is the primary destination for Bangladeshi migrant workers, with around 3.5 million Bangladeshis living in the kingdom, working in various sectors including construction, manufacturing, and services. These workers' earnings are crucial for their families back home, with Bangladeshi workers sending over $2.7 billion in remittances last year.

The cause of the fire and whether an investigation has been initiated into the operation of the unlicensed facility have not been disclosed by authorities.