Bodies of 9 Bangladeshis Killed in Riyadh Fire Arrive Today

Family members of those killed in Saudi fire waiting for their loved ones in distress. Photo: Collected

The bodies of nine Bangladeshi workers killed in a fire at a sofa factory in Saudi Arabia’s Riyadh are set to arrive in Bangladesh on Thursday afternoon.

The bodies are scheduled to reach Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport in Dhaka around 4pm on a Biman Bangladesh Airlines flight, BG-340.

Of the nine identified victims, seven were from Atrai upazila of Naogaon, while the other two were from Natore and Rajshahi. Their identities were confirmed through fingerprint analysis.

The fire broke out at a sofa manufacturing factory in Riyadh on August 9, killing 16 Bangladeshi workers. Bangladesh's embassy in Riyadh has been coordinating with Saudi authorities to complete the necessary formalities for repatriating the bodies.

The remaining seven bodies have not yet been identified. Authorities are conducting DNA profiling to establish their identities, after which arrangements will be made to bring them home.

The return of the bodies is expected to bring some closure to the grieving families, who have been waiting to receive their loved ones.