Migrant injured in Saudi attack dies, family awaits repatriation of body

A Bangladeshi migrant worker has died after sustaining critical injuries in a missile strike in Saudi Arabia, leaving his family in rural Mymensingh in mourning and anxiously awaiting the return of his body. The deceased, Abdullah Al Mamun (35), hailed from Bhorbhora village in Rasulpur Union under Gafargaon Upazila.

According to family members, Mamun had been planning to return home roughly a month after Eid-ul-Fitr. His long-cherished ambition was to construct a new house for his family using savings accumulated over years of hard work abroad. That dream, relatives say, has now been cruelly extinguished.

Mamun was the son of Shahid Soudagor and the second among six siblings. Driven by financial hardship, he moved to Saudi Arabia approximately 15 years ago in search of better prospects. His last visit home was five years ago. He is survived by his wife, Sharmin Akter (30), and their six-year-old son, Mahedi Sheikh, who now face an uncertain future without their primary breadwinner.

Family sources report that the incident occurred on 8 March, just before iftar, at a workers’ camp operated by Al Tuwaiq Baladia Company in Al Kharij city. A missile strike—reportedly linked to regional hostilities—hit the area, leaving Mamun severely injured. He was immediately hospitalised and placed on life support. Despite several days of intensive treatment, doctors declared him dead at approximately 11:30 p.m. local time on Tuesday.

The family received the devastating news the following day. Since then, Mamun’s mother, Shahida Khatun, has been inconsolable. Speaking through tears, she described the family’s financial vulnerability and pleaded for the swift repatriation of her son’s body. She lamented that her son’s aspirations—to provide for his child and support his ageing parents—would now remain unfulfilled.

Mamun’s father, Shahid Soudagor, also expressed deep concern over the family’s future, particularly the upbringing of his young grandson. He appealed to the government for assistance and urged authorities to expedite the return of the body.

Local Administration has responded with initial support measures. The Upazila Nirbahi Officer (UNO) of Gafargaon, N. M. Abdullah-Al-Mamun, confirmed that essential Eid supplies have been delivered to the bereaved family. He further stated that efforts are underway, in coordination with the Wage Earners’ Welfare Board, to arrange the prompt repatriation of the deceased’s remains.

Mymensingh’s Deputy Commissioner, Saifur Rahman, has instructed local authorities to extend all necessary assistance. He indicated that, following the return and burial of the body, a rehabilitation plan would be developed to support the widow and ensure the family’s long-term self-reliance.

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This tragic incident underscores the precarious conditions often faced by migrant workers in volatile regions. It also highlights the urgent need for stronger safeguards and support systems to protect expatriate labourers and assist their families in times of crisis.