Seven Bangladeshi nationals were killed and six others injured in a road accident in Saudi Arabia in the early hours of Saturday, 7 November, while travelling from Medina to Jeddah.

The crash happened at around 2am in Al-Himna, according to a preliminary report sent by the Bangladesh Consulate in Jeddah. The vehicle was carrying 13 passengers from three families, all from Cox’s Bazar district in Bangladesh. Four of the passengers, including the heads of the three families, were employed by Al-Abeer Company.

Four of the dead belonged to a single family. Ziaur Rahman, his daughter Bushra and his sons Yasir and Yazan were all killed, and their bodies have been kept at Al-Himna General Hospital. Mr Rahman’s wife, Shakira, was injured and is receiving treatment at Khulais General Hospital, while their daughter Yusra is being treated at King Abdulaziz Hospital in Jeddah.

Three families from Cox’s Bazar

In the family of Alam Shah, his wife Sanjida and daughter Fariar were killed. Their bodies have been kept at Al-Himna General Hospital and Khulais General Hospital respectively. Mr Shah was treated at Al-Himna Hospital and has been discharged, while his son Faisal is receiving treatment at East Jeddah Hospital.

In the third family, Afsana Bibi, the wife of Ilias, was killed. She had arrived in Saudi Arabia only a few days earlier to perform Umrah, and her body has been kept at Khulais General Hospital. Mr Ilias was treated at Al-Himna Hospital and has been discharged. Another injured passenger, Gafur Alam, is receiving treatment at Khulais General Hospital.

According to the consulate’s preliminary report, the vehicle was being driven by a Pakistani national and was travelling at an estimated speed of 160 kilometres per hour. Officials at the Khulais Traffic Office initially suspected that excessive speed caused the driver to lose control and the vehicle to overturn. The driver, however, has claimed that a tyre burst caused the accident. The actual cause will only be known once the Saudi authorities complete their investigation and issue a final report.

Prime minister offers condolences

Prime Minister Tarique Rahman expressed deep shock and sorrow over the deaths on Sunday, 8 November. “I express my deep shock and sorrow over the deaths of seven Bangladeshi nationals and injuries to six others in a tragic road accident in Saudi Arabia yesterday,” he said in a condolence message issued in the morning.

The prime minister extended his heartfelt condolences to the bereaved families, prayed for the eternal peace of the departed souls and wished the injured a speedy and full recovery. “In this difficult time, the government of Bangladesh stands by the affected families,” he said, adding that the Bangladesh Embassy and Consulate in Saudi Arabia would continue to provide all necessary assistance to the families of the victims and the injured.

The consulate acted quickly after learning of the accident. Its Labour Counsellor, accompanied by a legal assistant, visited the Khulais Traffic Office and spoke with officials there, and the preliminary report was sent to the authorities in Dhaka for their information and necessary instructions.