Fire at Riyadh sofa factory kills at least 16 Bangladeshi workers

A major fire broke out at a sofa-upholstery factory in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, killing at least 16 Bangladeshi workers, Bangladeshi authorities said.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Bangladesh confirmed the deaths and described the incident as a matter of deep concern for Dhaka. Saudi civil defence officials said firefighters extinguished the blaze at an unlicensed facility used for furniture upholstery, but authorities have not yet disclosed the cause of the fire or whether an investigation into the illegal operation has been opened.

Diplomatic follow-up and repatriation

Ariful Haque Chowdhury, the Minister for Expatriates' Welfare and Overseas Employment of Bangladesh, said that officials are in constant contact with Saudi authorities through the Bangladesh embassy in Riyadh. He added that instructions have been issued to ensure the bodies are returned to Bangladesh as quickly as possible and that government assistance and any due compensation be provided to the victims' families.

Bangladesh's prime minister, Tarik Rahman, expressed "deep shock" at the deaths and extended condolences to the bereaved families. His office said the prime minister is receiving regular updates and has ordered the ministries of foreign affairs and expatriate welfare to work closely with the diplomatic mission in Riyadh to speed up repatriation of the bodies.

Saudi Arabia is the largest destination for Bangladeshi migrant workers: roughly 3.5 million Bangladeshis live in the kingdom and work across sectors such as construction, manufacturing and services. Their earnings and remittances are an important source of income for families back home.

Worldwide, about seven million Bangladeshis work abroad, with the majority employed in Middle Eastern countries.

Photo: Монтажа / Икс