The bodies of nine victims, among the 16 Bangladeshi nationals killed in a sofa factory fire in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, are returning home Thursday.
The remains are scheduled to arrive at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport in Dhaka around 4pm on Biman Bangladesh Airlines flight BG‑340.
Atrai Upazila Nirbahi Officer (UNO) Md Moniruzzaman confirmed the matter, citing a letter from the Bangladesh Embassy in Riyadh dated 25 August.
The nine victims include seven from Atrai upazila. They were Md Farid of Udonpai village; Rubel Pramanik of Gondgohali village; Kalimuddin Islam, Mohon Ali and his younger brother Sumon Ali of Gondgohali village; Sohel Rana of Dubai village, and Abdul Jalil Sarkar of Parkasunda village.
The others are Rabiul Islam of Mahishdanga village in Natore’s Naldanga upazila and Shyamal Uddin of Moru village in Rajshahi’s Bagmara upazila.
Local officials and relatives said the fire broke out on 9 August at a sofa factory in Riyadh’s Shifa area, killing 16 Bangladeshis.
Saudi authorities confirmed the identities of nine victims through fingerprint tests. The remaining seven have yet to be identified as DNA tests are pending, leaving families anxiously waiting for their loved ones’ bodies.
Parul Bibi, mother of another victim Minhaj from Madhyaboali village in Atrai, said, “They say my son’s body has not been identified, so it will come later. I urge the government to bring it quickly. I cannot rest until I see him one last time.”
UNO Moniruzzaman said ambulances have been arranged to deliver the bodies from the airport to families free of charge. Relatives of the seven identified victims in Atrai have been notified. After legal formalities, the bodies are expected to reach their villages by Friday night.
He added that while initial reports suggested 13 victims from Atrai, current confirmation stands at 11 from Atrai and one from Naogaon Sadar. The process of repatriating identified bodies is underway, and efforts continue to bring back the rest once identification is complete, he added.
According to the Bangladesh Embassy, the remaining seven bodies will be sent home soon after DNA matching is finalised.
