Nine Bangladesh nationals among 11 who were burnt to death in a fire that broke out in a furniture-manufacturing factory at Shifa Sanaya in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia on Monday night, reports UNB.
The fire broke out in the factory around 10pm (Saudi time) where 15 workers, 13 from Bangladesh and two from India, were working at that time.
"Nine of the deceased are Bangladeshis," Bangladesh Ambassador in Riyadh M Shahidul Islam said over phone Tuesday.
He said the identities of the victims are yet to be ascertained as the bodies were charred badly. "It's very difficult to identify them."
"We're verifying the identities," said Ambassador Shahidul Islam mentioning that the victims are mostly from Comilla.
UNB Comilla correspondent says the seven victims from Comilla are Mohammad Shahjalal (36) son of Haji Rustom Ali, M Abdul Gaffar (35) son of Nurul Islam, M Selim (37) son of Ramjan Ali, Bahauddin (27) son of M Ismail Hossain, Nazir Hossain (32) son of Jamsher Ali, M Motiur Rahman (33) son of Abdul Karim and M Shah Alam (35) son of Habibur Rahman.
As the news of their deaths spread quickly over mobile phones, hundreds of relatives and neighbours rushed to the victims' village homes in Comilla district and tried to console them.
Two other victims are Zakir Hossain of Feni and Akkas of Madaripur, while the rest two victims are Indians.
Officials at the Bangladesh Embassy in Riyadh visited the accident site as well as hospital, said a Foreign Ministry official here quoting Second Secretary (Labour) Mizanur Rahman.
A detailed report would be sent by the Bangladesh Mission in Riyadh soon, added the official.
