Bangladesh’s foreign ministry expressed deep shock on Monday following the confirmation that 16 of its citizens perished in a fire at a sofa manufacturing facility in Riyadh. The incident, which occurred on Sunday, has prompted an immediate response from the Bangladeshi government to assist the victims’ families.
Expatriates’ Welfare Minister Ariful Haque Chowdhury stated that the government is maintaining constant communication with Saudi authorities via the Bangladesh Embassy. He confirmed that officials have been directed to expedite the repatriation of the victims’ remains and to ensure that their families receive all necessary government support and compensation.
In Riyadh, the local civil defence agency confirmed that they successfully extinguished a fire at an unlicensed site used for furniture upholstery. While the agency noted on X that regulatory procedures regarding the site have been completed, they did not provide specific details concerning the casualties in their official statement.
Bangladesh’s foreign ministry said it was in “deep shock” on Monday, after reporting the deaths of 16 citizens in a sofa factory fire in Saudi Arabia the previous day.
The foreign ministry reported “the tragic deaths of 16 Bangladeshi nationals in a fire at a sofa manufacturing factory in Riyadh” in its Monday statement.