Four Bangladeshi migrant workers from the Sylhet division have tragically lost their lives in a road traffic accident in Saudi Arabia while travelling to the airport for their journey home. The fatalities occurred in the early afternoon of Monday, 7 September, at approximately 2:00 pm local time in the Al-Khurma area, located along the highway between Taif and Jeddah.
The victims were en route to King Abdulaziz International Airport in Jeddah to board a scheduled flight back to Bangladesh. Their luggage was packed, and confirmed airline tickets were held for their long-awaited return. Before reaching the airport, the vehicle carrying the workers was involved in a severe collision, resulting in the immediate deaths of all four passengers as well as the vehicle’s driver.
Local government representatives in Bangladesh have confirmed the identities of two deceased individuals. Abdul Karim and Khalid Ahmad were residents of Lamar Taluk village, situated in the Gachbari area of South Banigram Union No. 7 within Kanaighat Upazila, Sylhet district. Lokman Uddin, the Union Parishad Chairman, officially verified their deaths and confirmed that both men had been residing and working in the Middle Eastern nation for an extended period.
While the identities of the remaining two victims are awaiting formal confirmation by diplomatic authorities, preliminary reports indicate they hail from neighbouring Moulvibazar and Sunamganj districts. Associates in Saudi Arabia noted that the two individuals lived alongside Abdul Karim and Khalid Ahmad and were travelling on the same itinerary to return home.
The tragedy has cast a deep shadow of grief over the victims’ home villages in Sylhet, where families were actively preparing to welcome them back after years of overseas employment. Loved ones are now appealing to the Ministry of Expatriates’ Welfare and Overseas Employment and the Bangladeshi Embassy in Riyadh to expedite the administrative procedures required to repatriate the mortal remains for burial.
