Nearly three months after a devastating fire broke out at a sofa manufacturing factory in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, the mortal remains of seven Bangladeshi migrant workers, five from Naogaon and two from Natore, were repatriated and delivered to their grieving families on Saturday.
Earlier on Saturday morning, a Biman Bangladesh Airlines flight carrying the coffins arrived at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport in Dhaka. Following the completion of required procedures by the Ministry of Expatriates’ Welfare and Overseas Employment, the bodies were handed over to their relatives and transported to their respective village homes in ambulances provided free of charge under complete government management. The ambulances arrived at the victims’ homes between Saturday afternoon and evening.
The tragedy occurred on 9 August when a horrific fire broke out at a sofa factory in Riyadh, claiming the lives of 16 Bangladeshi expatriates, 12 of whom were from Naogaon district. Although seven bodies were brought back in the first phase on 27 August, the identification of the remaining victims was delayed as their bodies were severely charred and disfigured.
Following an extensive legal process and DNA testing to confirm their identities, the remaining seven bodies were finally handed over to their families.
The five victims from Naogaon district identified through DNA testing are- Shahin (Par-Naogaon area, Naogaon Municipality), Hasibul Hasan Shuvo (Dubai village, Atrai Upazila), Minhaj Pramanik (Madhya Boalia village, Atrai Upazila), Masidul Sardar Sojib (Madhabpur village, Atrai Upazila), Sagar Ali (Sadhnagar village, Atrai Upazila).
The two victims from Natore district are- Mohammad Shamim (Dighirpara village, Naldanga Upazila), Sabbir Hossain (Khajura village, Naldanga Upazila).
All seven victims were laid to rest in their respective village graveyards on Saturday evening following funeral prayers (janaza).
Almost all of the deceased were the sole breadwinners for their households. Seeking to overcome poverty, build a future for their children, and bring financial stability to their families, they had travelled abroad after mortgaging land, securing microcredit from NGOs, or taking loans at high interest rates. Instead of bringing prosperity, their return in coffins has left their families shattered and burdened with unpaid debts.
As ambulances entered the village roads of Par-Naogaon, Madhabpur, Sadhnagar, and Madhya Boalia with blaring sirens, a thick pall of gloom descended on the entire area. Grieving relatives, neighbours, and villagers gathered to catch a final face-to-face look at the deceased.
Heart-wrenching scenes unfolded across the villages. Nargis Begum, mother of the deceased Shahin from Par-Naogaon, wept bitterly, sharing that she had taken an NGO loan of Tk5.7 lakh three months ago to send her son abroad. She expressed deep anxiety over how to feed Shahin’s two young children and repay the debt.
In Madhya Boalia village, Parul Bibi, mother of the deceased Minhaj, recalled her son’s promise over the phone that he had secured factory work and would return home after two years. Minhaj’s elderly father, Majnu Sardar, expressed immense grief over having to lower his son’s coffin into the grave himself.
Similarly, in Sadhnagar village, Parveen Khatun, wife of the deceased Sagar Ali, shared that she had sent her husband abroad by borrowing Tk6.5 lakh. Holding her two young children, she lamented that not a single taka of the debt had been repaid and expressed despair over their survival.
Regarding government support, Atrai Upazila Nirbahi Officer (UNO) Md Moniruzzaman confirmed that an immediate financial aid of Tk35,000 per family was provided for funeral and burial expenses. He added that an official government grant of Tk3 lakh per family will be handed over to the affected families after three months.
Naogaon District Commissioner (DC) Muhammad Saiful Islam said that the remains were transported to the victims’ homes entirely free of cost under official management. He assured that the district administration would continue to extend all necessary assistance and cooperation to the bereaved families.
