Saudi road crash: Death toll of Bangladeshi pilgrims rises to 13

The death toll of Bangladesh nationals from Monday’s bus crash in Saudi Arabia rose to 13 as five more deaths were reported by the foreign ministry on Wednesday.

The total accident death toll stood at 24 and injured around 23, according to the authorities.

The 13 Bnagladeshis deceased were Shahidul Islam, son of Shariat Ulla in Senbagh, Noakhali district; Mamun Mia, son of Abdul Awal and Russel Molla of Muradnagar in Cumilla district; Mohammad Helal of Noakhali district; Sabuj Hossain of Laxmipur district; Md Asif and Sifat Ullah of Maheshkhali in Cox’s Bazar district; Md Imam Hossain Rony, son of Abdul Latif in Gazipur district; Ruk Mia, son of Kalu Mia of Chandpur district; Gias Hamid of Debidwar in Cumilla district; Mohammad Nazmul, son of Kawsar Mia and Rony, son of Iskandar of Jashore district; and Mohammad Hossain of Cox’s Bazar district.

Five Bangladeshis are still missing.

The bus was carrying 47 Umrah pilgrims to Makkah and among them 35 passengers were Bangladesh nationals, said a Ministry of Foreign Affairs Spokesperson Seheli Sabrin.

The accident occurred in Saudi Arabia’s Asir province – around 650 km away from Jeddah –  at around 4:00 PM on Monday.

According to media reports, the bus collided with a bridge following a breake failure, overturned and burst into flames.

Hospital authorities said that it is very difficult to determine the nationality due to the burning and disfiguring of the bodies.

A team of the Consulate was sent to find out detailed information about Bangladeshis involved in the accident, according to a press release sent from Bangladesh Consulate General in Jeddah.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs is deeply saddened to receive the unfortunate news of death of thirteen Bangladeshi migrant workers and the injury of seventeen others in a tragic bus accident in the Abha district of Asir Province of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

Two officers of the Bangladesh Consulate General, Jeddah visited the area immediately after the incident and are trying to identify the victims and contact their family members in Bangladesh.