16 Asians killed in Riyadh fire

The Civil Defense in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, announced on Monday via the X platform that its teams extinguished a fire that broke out at an unlicensed site used for furniture upholstery activities.

The Bangladesh Embassy in Saudi Arabia stated in a press release that 16 Bangladeshi nationals lost their lives in a fire that erupted at a furniture factory in Riyadh.

Minister for Expatriate Welfare Arif Hossain Chowdhury confirmed “continuous communication” with Saudi authorities through the Bangladesh Embassy in the Kingdom, emphasizing efforts to ensure the swift repatriation of the deceased expatriates’ bodies and to secure all necessary government assistance and compensation for their families.

Later, the Bangladesh Embassy in Riyadh said it was in contact with the families of the victims and was “coordinating with Saudi authorities regarding the identification of the deceased and completing the procedures for repatriating the bodies to their home country.”