16 Bangladeshis killed in factory fire in Saudi Arabia, 13 from Naogaon

Sixteen Bangladeshis have been killed in a massive fire at a sofa manufacturing factory in the Musa Sanaiya Industrial Area under Shifa Police Station in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Thirteen of the deceased were from Naogaon.

Naogaon Deputy Commissioner Mohammad Saiful Islam confirmed the matter.

He said that so far, 13 people have been confirmed dead in a fire at a sofa factory in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, from Atrai Upazila of Naogaon.

The names of some of the deceased have been revealed. They are Kali (30), Lutfar (32), Zander, Rubel of Kalikapur union of the upazila, Sagar, Majidul of Bisha area, Shuvo, Sumon and Jalal of Parkasunda village of Dubai area, and Md. Farid Sheikh of Udonpai village. 

Citing eyewitnesses, Counselor (Labor) of the Bangladesh Embassy in Riyadh, Mohammad Rezae Rabbi said that 16 people died on the spot in a massive fire that broke out at a sofa-making factory in the Musa Sanaiya Industrial Area under Shifa Police Station in Riyadh at around 2 pm on Sunday, confirmed by rescue workers of the fire service working there. Local eyewitnesses to the incident said that all the deceased were Bangladeshis. The local fire service is still conducting rescue operations. It has become difficult to identify the bodies as they were burnt in the fire.

The Bangladesh Embassy in Riyadh expressed deep shock over the incident. Embassy officials are reportedly at the scene and are in contact with local Saudi authorities to identify the deceased.