16 Bangladeshi Workers Die in Riyadh Sofa Factory Fire
A fire at a sofa factory in Riyadh killed 16 Bangladeshi migrant workers; Dhaka moves to repatriate bodies and secure compensation.
At least 16 Bangladeshi migrant workers have died in a fire that broke out on Sunday at a sofa manufacturing factory in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. The incident occurred in the Musa Sanaiya industrial area of the Saudi capital.
Bangladesh's Ministry of Foreign Affairs is closely monitoring the situation. Officials from the Bangladesh Embassy in Riyadh are coordinating with Saudi authorities to complete the necessary formalities for repatriating the deceased workers' bodies.
Expatriates' Welfare and Overseas Employment Minister Ariful Haque Choudhury has directed officials to expedite the return of the bodies and to ensure that the bereaved families receive government assistance and compensation.
Saudi Arabia is the largest destination for Bangladeshi migrant workers, hosting an estimated 3.5 million citizens. Last year, Bangladeshi workers in the kingdom sent home more than $2.7 billion in remittances, underscoring the human and economic significance of the community affected by this tragedy.