The namaz-e- janaza for seven Bangladeshi workers killed in a fire at a sofa manufacturing factory in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, has been completed.
The janaza was held at the Molla Azad Memorial College field in Atrai at 10:15am on Friday.
Member of Parliament Sheikh Mohammad Rezaul Islam Rezu, Deputy Commissioner Mohammad Saiful Islam, officials from the police and upazila administration, and local residents attended the prayers.
The seven bodies arrived in Atrai upazila of Naogaon in refrigerated ambulances at around 1:30am Friday.
The bodies arrived at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport from Saudi Arabia on a Biman Bangladesh Airlines flight at around 4pm Thursday.
On Tuesday, the Bangladesh Embassy in Riyadh confirmed the identities of the victims in a notice signed by Counsellor Muhammad Reza-e Rabbi.
According to the notice, 16 Bangladeshi workers were killed in the fire at the sofa manufacturing factory. Saudi authorities identified nine of the deceased through fingerprint tests, and the necessary formalities to repatriate the bodies had been completed.
The seven victims from Naogaon identified in the list provided by the Saudi embassy are Md Farid, son of Moyeen Uddin of Udanpai village; Rubel Pramanik, son of Saidur Rahman of Gondogohali village; brothers Mohon Ali and Sumon Ali, sons of Guffar Pramanik of the same village; Kolimuddin, son of Bazlur Rahman of the same village; Sohel Rana, son of Badal Torofdar of Dubai village; and Abdul Jalil Sardar, son of Tamez Uddin Sardar of Parkasunda village.
Atrai Upazila Nirbahi Officer (UNO) Md Moniruzzaman said the administration has remained in regular contact with the families and sent the necessary documents to Saudi Arabia.
“Through coordination by the administration, ambulances were hired to bring the bodies back at no cost to the families. So far, the bodies of seven identified victims from Atrai have arrived,” he said.
Citing the Ministry of Expatriates’ Welfare and Overseas Employment, the UNO said 13 deaths from Atrai were initially reported following the fire. The identities of 11 victims from Atrai and one from Naogaon Sadar have since been confirmed.
