Shyamal Uddin Majhi, who was killed in a fire at a sofa manufacturing factory in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, was buried beside his parents at his family graveyard in Bagmara, Rajshahi, at 11am on Friday.
His body reached his home in Dangapara village of Marugram under Jhikra Union of Bagmara upazila at around 3am on Friday.
The bodies of Shyamal and 9 other Bangladeshis arrived at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport on a Biman Bangladesh Airlines flight at around 4pm on Thursday. The bodies were then handed over to the relatives of the deceased.
Shyamal was a resident of Marugram under Jhikra Union of Bagmara upazila in Rajshahi district. His son-in-law Mizanur Rahman went to the airport to receive his body.
Mizanur said Shyamal’s namaz-e-janaza was held at 11am on Friday, with relatives and local residents attending. He was later buried beside his parents at the family graveyard.
Shyamal had gone to Saudi Arabia around 8 years ago in the hope of improving his family’s financial condition. He worked at a sofa manufacturing factory in the Manfuhah area of Riyadh.
On the night of August 9, a fire broke out at the factory, killing 16 Bangladeshi workers, including Shyamal.
Family members had been waiting for Shyamal to return home after 8 years. According to family sources, he had been preparing to return and had told them during their last conversation that he would return home soon.
His wife and 3 daughters had been waiting for him. His death has left the family facing uncertainty, as he was the family’s only earning member.
Local residents have called on the government, elected representatives, affluent individuals and those involved in expatriate welfare to stand beside the bereaved family.
Bagmara Upazila Nirbahi Officer Selim Ahmed said: “After hearing about the death, the upazila administration provided Tk 25,000 and dry food. They also received Tk 35,000 at the airport. Since the deceased has 3 daughters, I have asked prominent people in the area to look after them. As they are studying, we will support them.”