Natore, Aug. 11 (V7N) — Sixteen Bangladeshis were killed in a fire at a sofa manufacturing factory in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, with three of the victims coming from Naldanga upazila of Natore district.
The victims' families have urged the authorities to arrange the repatriation of their relatives' bodies to Bangladesh as soon as possible.
The fire broke out at a factory in the Musha Sanaia area of Riyadh at around 3:30pm Bangladesh time on Sunday, Aug. 9, according to local sources.
The three victims from Natore have been identified as Mohammad Shamim Hossain, 35, son of Mohammad Zakir Ali of Dighir Par village; Mohammad Sabbir Ahmed Shuvo, 30, son of Mohammad Golam Rabbani of Sripur Para; and Mohammad Rabiul Awal Hridoy, 25, son of Mohammad Aslam Hossain of Mahishdanga village.
All three were residents of Khajura Union in Naldanga upazila.
Naldanga Upazila Nirbahi Officer Md Al Imran Khan said the incident was deeply tragic and that the district administration and higher authorities had been informed.
He said officials visited the families of the deceased and offered condolences. The government would provide all possible assistance to the affected families, he added.
The UNO also said steps had been taken to initiate the necessary diplomatic and legal procedures to bring the victims' bodies back to Bangladesh.
Khajura Union Parishad Chairman Md Sohrab Hossain confirmed the deaths, saying the three young men had travelled to Saudi Arabia about a year ago in an effort to escape poverty and improve their families' financial circumstances.
According to the union chairman, the three were employed at a sofa manufacturing factory in the Khordam area of Riyadh. The fire reportedly broke out suddenly on Sunday afternoon and rapidly engulfed the factory.
The three men were trapped inside the premises while they were working and died in the blaze.
The families are now seeking urgent government and diplomatic assistance to bring the bodies home for burial.
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