The Ministry of Expatriates’ Welfare and Overseas Employment reported that the fire broke out at the factory in the Musa Industrial Area under Al-Shifa police station around 2:00 p.m. local time, killing all 16 victims at the scene. The notification drew on information from Saudi fire service personnel working at the site in the capital. Investigations into the precise origin of the blaze have commenced while rescue operations concluded, according to details shared with Bangladeshi officials.
Ten of the deceased came from Bangladesh’s northern Naogaon district with the remaining six hailing from Natore and Rajshahi districts, the ministry’s assessment found. Minister Ariful Haque Chowdhury expressed shock and sorrow at the deaths of citizens who had sought livelihoods abroad. «Such untimely and tragic deaths of expatriates working in distant Saudi Arabia in search of livelihood are very heartbreaking. Their contribution to the country’s economy is immense,» Chowdhury said in the statement.
The Bangladesh Embassy in Saudi Arabia has maintained round-the-clock contact with the accident site and local authorities while officials who arrived at the scene are working closely with relevant Saudi counterparts to identify the deceased. Concerned diplomats received instructions to expedite repatriation of the remains and secure all necessary government assistance along with compensation for the families. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Bangladesh stated separately that it continues to monitor the situation closely and provide all required support.
Saudi Arabia hosts roughly 3.5 million Bangladeshi citizens and stands as the leading destination for the country’s migrant workforce, according to the ministry’s figures. Bangladesh Bank data shows that workers in the kingdom sent more than $2.7 billion in remittances last year with the majority engaged in low-skilled manufacturing and services roles. The scale of these labor movements has grown steadily over the past decade amid demand in Gulf economies.
A Human Rights Watch report from May 2025 documented multiple preventable deaths among migrant workers in Saudi workplaces including incidents tied to fires, equipment failures and inadequate safety protocols. The assessment noted that authorities frequently fell short on thorough investigations and timely compensation including mandatory insurance payouts for survivors. International Labour Organization statistics place migrants in sectors where occupational hazard compliance varies widely across facilities.
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