RIYADH: At least nine Bangladeshis among 11 people were burnt alive in a devastating fire at a furniture factory in Shifa Sanaya area of Suadi Arabian capital Riyadh on Tuesday.

The deceased Bangladeshis were identified as M Jalal, 35, Abdul Gaffar, 32, M Selim, 35, Bahauddin, 35, Nazir Hossain, 35, Motiur Rahman, 32, and Shah Alam,35 – all were hailed from Comilla district, Zakir Hossain, 55, of Feni and Aftab, 45, of Madaripur while two Bangladeshis remained unidentified.

The two deceased Indian were Israr, 25, and Wasim, 35.

Labor counsel at Bangladesh embassy in Riyadh Mizanur Rahman confirmed the death of nine people after visiting the spot.

Fire fighters claimed they recovered 11 bodies after rescue operation.

Besides, two Bangladeshis survived from the fire. They are- Hannan Mollah, 34, hailed from Manikganj, and Dulal, 27, hailed from Comilla district.

Fire caught the factory at 10:00pm local time, Abdul Hannan, a co-worker at the factory, confirmed banglanews.

Some 15 labourers – 13 Bangladeshis and two Indians– worked at Hila Sofa Factory. They resided inside the factory and were taking rest after finished their works.

Banglanews Saudi Arab Correspondent M. Al Amin reported from the spot, fire fighters brought out 11 bodies from the damages, all bodies had gone misshaped, and their identities could not be known immediately.

The fire might have been originated from electric short circuit.

It is learned that Raziuddin of Kalipur village under Titas upazila of Comilla is running the factory as ‘Titas Furniture’ on monthly contract with Hilla Company.

When contacted to Raziuddin, his cell phone found switched off.

On the other hand, Labour Councilor of Bangladesh Embassy Mizanur Rahman said that some 4-5 burnt bodies were identified and others remained unidentified. 

The identified bodies will be sent back to home as soon as possible and the unidentified bodies will be indentified by DNA test, he added.

BDST: 1216 HRS, MAY 13, 2014