Bangladeshi Expat Dies in Saudi Missile Attack

A Bangladeshi expatriate, Abdullah Al Mamun, has tragically died in Saudi Arabia after sustaining severe injuries in a missile attack. His father confirmed the death on Wednesday, 18 March.

Mamun, aged 35, hailed from Bharbhara village in Rasulpur Union, Gafargaon Upazila, Mymensingh. He was the son of the late Shahid Saudagar and leaves behind a young son.

According to family sources, the incident occurred on 8 March, moments before Iftar, when a missile struck a workers’ camp operated by Al Towaik Baladiya Company in Al Kharij city. Mamun was critically injured in the explosion and was immediately admitted to Dr. Sulaiman Al Habib Hospital in Al Kharij for intensive treatment. Despite medical efforts, he was declared dead around 11:30 pm on Tuesday night while on life support. His body is currently being held in the hospital morgue.

Mamun’s cousin, Shawon Morol, said, “He suffered severe injuries in the blast and was under hospital care until his passing.” The devastating news has cast a shadow of grief over his family and the local community. Relatives have called for the swift repatriation of his body to Bangladesh.

The missile strike also claimed the lives of other Bangladeshi workers. According to reports:

Sources indicate that Mamun suffered burns covering approximately 72% of his body, highlighting the extreme severity of the blast. Several other expatriate Bangladeshis were also injured in the attack, some critically.

The incident has sparked widespread concern among the Bangladeshi community in Saudi Arabia. Authorities and family members are working urgently to facilitate the return of Mamun’s body to Bangladesh.

This tragedy underscores the vulnerability of migrant workers in conflict-affected areas and the urgent need for enhanced safety measures in overseas labour camps. Local authorities and the Bangladesh embassy in Saudi Arabia have been urged to improve emergency response mechanisms to prevent such losses in the future.

The loss of Abdullah Al Mamun is deeply mourned by his family, friends, and the wider expatriate community. His untimely death is a stark reminder of the perils faced by migrant workers abroad, as well as the enduring grief their families bear back home.