Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami Secretary General and former MP Mia Golam Parwar expressed deep grief over the deaths of 16 Bangladeshi migrant workers in a major fire at a sofa factory in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. The fire occurred in the Musa Sanaiya industrial area under Shifa police station in the Saudi capital. The report, published on August 10, said Parwar issued his condolence message on Monday.

In the message, Parwar described news of the deaths as deeply heartbreaking and painful. He said family members of the migrant workers depended substantially, and in some cases entirely, on them. He said the loss of lives in this manner while working abroad for a livelihood was an irreparable loss for their relatives.

Parwar prayed for the souls of those killed and extended deep condolences to the bereaved families. He called on the Bangladesh government and the Bangladesh embassy in Saudi Arabia to swiftly identify the victims and return their bodies to Bangladesh for handover to their families. He also urged the Ministry of Expatriates’ Welfare and Overseas Employment to provide appropriate financial compensation and overall assistance to the families.