Saudi factory fire claims 16 Bangladeshis, leaving four families in Gondgohali shattered

Mohon went to Saudi Arabia seven years ago, hoping to build a better life for his family. He worked at a sofa factory in Riyadh’s Musa Sanaiya industrial zone and earned well.

Two years ago, he brought his younger brother Sumon to Saudi Arabia. The brothers worked at the same factory and lived together.

Their shared dream was simple: clear the family’s debts, build a better home and, eventually, settle down. That dream went up in flames on Sunday.

Mohon and Sumon were among the Bangladeshis killed in the factory fire.

Their father, Abdul Gaffar of Gondgohali village in Atrai, clutched photographs of his two sons and broke down.

“They never came home on holiday. Mohon would say, ‘Father, I’m working hard to clear the debts. I’m starting the house work. I’ll come home and finish building it. I’ll get married and start a family’.

“My son will never come home now. What a tragedy has befallen me.”

Relatives and neighbours gathered at the family home to console the parents and their daughter. But the family’s grief was overwhelming.

Mohon’s sister Adori Begum recalled speaking to her brother around 1pm on Sunday.

“My brother will never call me again. Allah has taken both my brothers away,” she said.

Of the 16 Bangladeshis reported killed in the Saudi factory fire, 13 were from Atrai, including four from Gondgohali. Besides Mohon and Sumon, there were Rubel Pramanik and Kalim Uddin.

At Kalim’s home, his mother wept while holding his photograph. He had planned to return home and get married.

“I thought we were finally seeing happiness, only to fall into an ocean of grief. I want to see my son one last time.”

The families have urged the government to bring the bodies home.

Atrai Upazila administrator Moniruzzaman said authorities were coordinating with the expatriates’ welfare ministry to repatriate the remains.

Each family is also being processed for Tk 300,000 in assistance.

Of the 16 victims, 13 were from Atrai, two from Naldanga in Natore and one from Bagmara in Rajshahi.