Bangladesh’s foreign ministry expressed deep shock on Monday following the deaths of 16 Bangladeshi citizens in a fire that broke out at a sofa manufacturing facility in Riyadh the previous day. In an official statement, the ministry confirmed the tragic loss of life, marking a significant incident involving expatriate workers in the Saudi capital.
Ariful Haque Chowdhury, the Minister for Expatriates’ Welfare, stated that the government is maintaining constant communication with local Saudi authorities through the Bangladesh Embassy. He confirmed that officials have been tasked with facilitating the urgent repatriation of the victims’ remains, while also ensuring that the families of the deceased receive all necessary government assistance and compensation.
The Saudi civil defence agency reported that the blaze occurred at an unlicensed site used for furniture upholstery. In a post on X, the agency confirmed that the fire was successfully extinguished and that all required regulatory procedures regarding the site have since been completed. The Saudi authorities did not provide specific details regarding the casualties in their initial public statements.
Source: Gulf Today
