At least sixteen Bangladeshi expatriates were killed in a fire at a sofa manufacturing factory in the Manfuha area of Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, on Sunday.
Most of the victims were residents of Atrai upazila in Naogaon.
The Ministry of Expatriates’ Welfare and Overseas Employment confirmed the matter on Sunday night.
Ten of the deceased were identified as Sagar, 31, and Majidul, 34, from Bisha village; Farid Sheikh, 32, from Udanpoy village; Sumon, 35, and Hasibul Hasan, 27, from Dubai village; Mahun Pramanik, 42, Sumon Pramanik, Rubel Hossain, 30, and Koli Pramanik, 35, from Gondogohali village; and Abdul Jalil, 38, from Parkasunda village.
Atrai Upazila Nirbahi Officer (UNO) Mohammad Moniruzzaman confirmed the deaths to journalists at around 10:30pm on Sunday.
According to the upazila administration, citing family members, the victims had travelled to Saudi Arabia from different villages of Atrai and were working at the sofa manufacturing factory in Riyadh.
The fire broke out at the factory on Sunday afternoon. Seven of the deceased were reportedly from Atrai upazila, according to earlier information from the local administration.
UNO Mohammad Moniruzzaman said the death toll could rise further.
FP/A
