Selfie of Bangladeshi workers goes viral after their tragic deaths in Saudi factory fire
- Last updated: August 12, 2026 | 21:52
A major fire at a sofa manufacturing factory in the Saudi capital Riyadh has killed 16 Bangladeshi workers.
A selfie photo went viral on social media of the Bangladeshi workers after the tragic incident in Riyadh.
The heartbreaking selfie were taken just moments before the Bangladeshi workers tragically died in a factory fire in Saudi capital.
The selfie was shared one of the victims just moments before their tragic deaths.
The workers belonged to Naogaon, Natore and Rajshahi areas of Bangladesh, local media said.
Meanwhile, Bangladesh's foreign ministry said it was in "deep shock" after reporting that 16 of the country's citizens died in a factory fire in Saudi Arabia the day before.
It reported "the tragic deaths of 16 Bangladeshi nationals in a fire at a sofa manufacturing factory in Riyadh" in a statement.
Bangladesh’s embassy is coordinating with Saudi authorities to repatriate the victims’ bodies, while the government has pledged assistance and compensation for the bereaved families.
The fire broke out on Sunday at a manufacturing facility in the industrial area of the Al Shifa district in Riyadh, according to the Bangladesh embassy in Riyadh.
"There were no injuries reported; all those affected died," the embassy said in a statement.
Dhaka's minister for expatriate welfare, Ariful Haque Chowdhury, said that there was "constant communication" with local authorities through the Bangladeshi embassy in Saudi Arabia.
"Officials have been instructed to ensure the speedy repatriation of the bodies of the deceased expatriates and to secure all necessary government assistance and compensation for their families," he added.
The Bangladeshi embassy in Riyadh later said it remained in contact with the families of the deceased and was "coordinating with Saudi authorities on victim identification and repatriation formalities".
"The necessary regulatory procedures were subsequently completed regarding the site," it said in a statement on X.