Story perspectives

Fire at Riyadh Sofa Factory Kills 16 Bangladeshi Workers

8/10/2026

Summary

Story summary

A fire at a sofa factory in Riyadh’s Musa Sanaiya area on Sunday, August 9 killed 16 Bangladeshi workers.
Ten of the victims were from Naogaon district, while the others came from Natore and Rajshahi.
Expatriates’ Welfare Minister Ariful Haque Chowdhury ordered rapid repatriation of the bodies and assistance for families.
Bangladesh’s embassy, foreign ministry and prime minister are coordinating with Saudi authorities to identify victims and arrange repatriation.

History

Historical Context

The 24 April 2013 collapse of Rana Plaza in Savar, Bangladesh, killed 1,134 garment workers and prompted Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and the International Labour Organization to push brands into the 2013 Bangladesh Accord, a legally binding safety pact covering millions of workers. The August 9 2024 fire at Riyadh’s Musa Sanaiya sofa factory, which killed 16 Bangladeshi laborers, revived those same safety concerns and spurred Minister Ariful Haque Chowdhury’s rapid repatriation effort.

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Story summary

A fire at a sofa factory in Riyadh’s Musa Sanaiya area on Sunday, August 9 killed 16 Bangladeshi workers.
Ten of the victims were from Naogaon district, while the others came from Natore and Rajshahi.
Expatriates’ Welfare Minister Ariful Haque Chowdhury ordered rapid repatriation of the bodies and assistance for families.
Bangladesh’s embassy, foreign ministry and prime minister are coordinating with Saudi authorities to identify victims and arrange repatriation.

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