Emergency services respond to a fire at a furniture facility in Riyadh where 16 Bangladeshi nationals were killed.

Riyadh Factory Fire Kills 16 Bangladeshi Workers

Bangladesh Confirms 16 Migrant Deaths Following Riyadh Factory Fire

By News Desk On Aug 11, 2026

Riyadh: (News Desk) – A fire at a furniture manufacturing facility in the Saudi capital has claimed the lives of 16 Bangladeshi nationals, according to Bangladesh’s Foreign Ministry.

The blaze broke out at a sofa manufacturing unit in the industrial area of Riyadh’s Shifa district, the Bangladeshi embassy said. All 16 people affected by the fire died, while no other injuries were reported.

Bangladesh’s Minister for Expatriates’ Welfare and Overseas Employment, Ariful Haq Chaudhry, said the country’s embassy in Riyadh was maintaining close contact with Saudi authorities following the incident.

According to Bangladeshi officials, 10 of the victims were from Naogaon district, while the remaining victims came from Natore and Rajshahi.

The minister said authorities had been instructed to facilitate the early repatriation of the victims’ remains and ensure that their families receive the necessary government assistance and compensation.

The Bangladeshi embassy in Riyadh said it was also communicating with the victims’ families while working with Saudi authorities to identify the deceased and arrange the return of their bodies to Bangladesh.

Saudi Arabia’s Civil Defense agency said the fire occurred at an unlicensed facility involved in furniture upholstery. Emergency teams brought the blaze under control, although the agency did not initially provide details about casualties.

Authorities said the necessary legal and administrative measures had been completed concerning the facility following the incident.

Bangladeshi officials estimate that millions of their citizens work overseas, with a large proportion employed in Middle Eastern countries. More than three million Bangladeshis are estimated to live and work in Saudi Arabia.

Like other Gulf states, Saudi Arabia relies heavily on foreign workers, particularly in labour-intensive industries. Bangladeshi migrants work across a wide range of sectors, including administration, cleaning, hospitality, restaurants and other service-related occupations.