A fire broke out at a sofa and furniture factory in the Musa Sanaiya industrial area of Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, on Sunday. At least 16 Bangladeshi migrant workers were killed in the incident.
The Riyadh civil defence agency stated that the facility where the fire occurred was unlicensed. On the social media platform X, the agency said it extinguished a fire at an unlicensed site used for furniture upholstery and that necessary regulatory procedures were subsequently completed regarding the location.
According to the Saudi Civil Defence, eight of the workers died from burns and eight from smoke inhalation. No detailed statement has been made so far regarding the specific cause of the fire or the working and fire safety conditions at the factory.
Victims identified
The Bangladeshi Ministry of Expatriates' Welfare and Overseas Employment reported the deaths, citing the fire service department in Saudi Arabia. The ministry stated that ten of the victims were from the northern Naogaon district, while the rest were from the northern and western Natore and Rajshahi districts.
Bangladesh's Ministry of Foreign Affairs addressed the incident in a statement on Monday, reporting the tragic deaths of 16 nationals. The ministry expressed deep shock over the loss of life and stated it is closely monitoring the situation while providing all necessary assistance.
Ariful Haque Chowdhury, Bangladesh's Minister for Expatriates' Welfare and Overseas Employment, expressed shock and sorrow over the deaths. He noted there was constant communication with local authorities through the Bangladesh Embassy in Saudi Arabia.
Minister Chowdhury instructed officials to expedite the repatriation of the deceased expatriates' remains and ensure all necessary government assistance and compensation for their families. The Bangladesh Embassy in Riyadh said it is maintaining round-the-clock contact with the accident site and local authorities.
Officials from the Bangladesh Embassy in Riyadh arrived at the scene and are working with Saudi authorities to identify the deceased and complete formalities for repatriating their remains.
Migrant workforce context
Saudi Arabia is the largest destination for Bangladeshi migrant workers. Estimates of the population vary; some reports cite approximately 3.5 million Bangladeshi citizens living and working in the Kingdom, while Saudi media estimates place the figure at over three million.
Around seven million Bangladeshis work overseas, with the majority employed in the Middle East. Last year, Bangladeshi migrant workers sent more than $2.7 billion in remittances, with most employed in low-skilled jobs.
Saudi Arabia relies on a vast number of labourers from the Indian subcontinent to bolster its workforce, especially for manual labour. Foreign workers in the country perform roles ranging from management to street cleaning and waiting tables, in a society where many citizens are reluctant to take jobs considered menial.
Reports indicate that a significant portion of Bangladeshi migrant workers in Saudi Arabia work in low-wage, low-skill jobs. These workers often face rights abuses including unpaid wages, long working hours, insecure conditions, passport confiscation, forced labour, and physical and psychological violence.
This incident follows previous workplace fatalities. In February 2021, a fire at a furniture factory near Medina killed seven migrant workers, six of whom were Bangladeshi. In August 2016, a fire at another workplace in Riyadh killed four Bangladeshi workers.
