A fire at a sofa manufacturing factory in Saudi Arabia has claimed the lives of 17 people. Among the victims, 12 are residents of various villages in the Atrai upazila of Naogaon, while the remaining 5 are from the Naldanga upazila of Natore. Authorities fear the death toll could rise.

Mohammad Saiful Islam, the Deputy Commissioner (DC) of Naogaon, confirmed the information on Sunday night (August 9).

Locals reported that among the 17 Bangladeshi victims, 12 hail from villages including Gandagohali, Dubai, Baithakhali, Khanjor, Parkasunda, Dighirpar in Atrai upazila, as well as Khajura village under Naldanga police station in the neighboring Natore district.

Jahurul Islam, a resident of Mohonghosh village in Atrai upazila who is currently on vacation and previously worked at the same factory in Saudi Arabia, stated that the victims from Kalikapur union include Guffar Pramanik and his two sons, Mohun Pramanik and Suman Pramanik, along with Rubel Hossain (son of Jannat), and Koli Pramanik (son of Fazlu). Other victims include Farid Sheikh (son of Moyen Sheikh from Udanpoi village in Sahagola union), Suman (son of the late Badal), Hasibul Hasan Shubho (son of Chanchal), Suman (son of the late Ruhul) from Dubai village in Bisha union, and Jalil from Parkasunda village in Pachupur union.

Naogaon Deputy Commissioner Mohammad Saiful Islam stated that he has received news of several Bangladeshis dying in the Saudi sofa factory fire, though he could not yet confirm the exact number of victims from Naogaon or other districts. The definitive death toll will be confirmed tomorrow morning.