Bangladesh seeks swift repatriation of bodies and support for bereaved families after blaze in Saudi capital’s industrial area.
A fire at an unlicensed sofa manufacturing factory in Riyadh has killed 16 Bangladeshi migrant workers, officials in Dhaka confirmed on Monday, prompting urgent efforts by Bangladesh to repatriate the bodies and assist the victims’ families.
The blaze broke out on Sunday afternoon in the Musa Sanaiya industrial area under the Al-Shifa police station in the Saudi capital. Saudi Civil Defence said firefighters extinguished a fire at an unlicensed premises being used for furniture upholstery and completed the necessary regulatory procedures, though it did not provide casualty figures.
16 Bangladeshi Workers Killed in Riyadh Factory Fire:
Bangladesh’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Expatriates’ Welfare and Overseas Employment Ministry confirmed that all 16 people who died were Bangladeshi nationals. Embassy officials in Riyadh said there were no reported injuries among other workers; all those affected perished at the scene. According to the embassy, citing local civil defence sources, eight of the victims died from burns and eight from smoke inhalation.
Of the 16 deceased, 13 were from Naogaon district, two from Natore and one from Rajshahi. A sole survivor, Habibur Rahman from the same community as several of the victims, said he had left the factory briefly for a haircut when the fire started around 1:30-2:00pm local time. He returned to find the building engulfed in flames and emergency crews already on site.
Expatriates’ Welfare and Overseas Employment Minister Ariful Haque Choudhury said officials had been instructed to secure the quick return of the bodies and to ensure government assistance and compensation for the bereaved families. The Bangladesh Embassy in Riyadh is coordinating with Saudi authorities on identification formalities and remains in contact with the victims’ relatives. Families must provide written consent for either local burial or repatriation.
Riyadh Factory Fire Raises Safety Concerns:
Bangladesh’s foreign ministry expressed “deep shock” over the deaths. Saudi Arabia is the largest destination for Bangladeshi migrant workers, hosting an estimated 3.5 million Bangladeshis who sent home more than $2.7 billion in remittances last year. Many work in construction, domestic service and small manufacturing facilities, often under challenging conditions.
The incident has drawn attention to the risks faced by migrant labourers in the kingdom, particularly in informal or unlicensed workplaces. Preliminary accounts suggested a possible electrical short circuit as the cause, though a full investigation is continuing.
Embassy staff and local authorities are working to complete identification and documentation so that the bodies can be returned to Bangladesh as soon as possible. Families in the affected villages of Naogaon and neighbouring districts are awaiting news and support.