Bodies of 9 expatriates killed in Saudi Arabia fire return home

The bodies of nine of the 16 Bangladeshis killed in a devastating fire at a sofa factory in Riyadh of Saudi Arabia have arrived in the country after their identities were confirmed.

The bodies reached Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport by Bangladesh Biman flight BG-340 at 4:05pm on Thursday (August 27). At that time Expatriates’ Welfare and Overseas Employment Minister Ariful Haque Chowdhury was present at the airport along with the relatives of the deceased. After completing the necessary formalities the bodies were handed over to the family members. Later the relatives left for their respective areas with the bodies.

A devastating fire broke out at a sofa factory in Riyadh, the capital of Saudi Arabia, on August 9. Sixteen Bangladeshis were killed in the incident. After the accident the process of identifying the deceased began. After confirming the identities of nine through fingerprint examination arrangements were made to send their bodies to the country.

Of the nine who returned to the country seven are residents of Atrai upazila of Naogaon. They are Md Farid of Udanpai village, Rubel Pramanik of Gandgohali village, Kalimuddin Islam, Mohon Ali and his younger brother Sumon Ali, Sohel Rana of Dubai village and Abdul Jalil Sarkar of Parkasunda village.

Of the other two one is Rabiul Islam of Mahishdanga village under Naldanga upazila of Natore and the other is Shyamol Uddin of Marugram under Bagmara upazila of Rajshahi. After taking the bodies to their respective areas arrangements for burial will be made according to family decisions.

The deceased had gone abroad dreaming of earning money for their relatives and building the future of their families. But that dream has stopped due to the devastating fire at the workplace. With the news of the bodies returning to the country an environment of waiting to see the dear ones for the last time as well as grief and crying has been created in the families.