A Bangladeshi migrant worker from Tangail has been killed after a missile strike hit a residential building in Saudi Arabia, triggering grief in his hometown and renewed concerns about the safety of expatriate workers in conflict-affected areas.
The victim, Mosharraf Hossain, 38, hailed from Kirtankhola Madhyapara village under Gajaria Union in Sakhipur upazila of Tangail district. He died when a missile struck a residential compound in the Al-Kharj Governorate of Saudi Arabia on Sunday evening (8 March) at around 9:00 pm Bangladesh time.
According to the Saudi Civil Defence Agency, the attack targeted a residential building inside a compound in Al-Kharj, an area located south of the capital Riyadh. Authorities confirmed the incident in a post on the social media platform X, stating that emergency teams were deployed immediately after the strike to assess damage and respond to casualties.
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Life Abroad Cut Short
Family members and local residents said Mosharraf had travelled to Saudi Arabia nearly eight years ago in search of better economic opportunities. Like many Bangladeshi migrant workers in the Gulf region, he worked to support his family back home. He had last returned to Bangladesh about two years ago.
In a heartbreaking twist, Mosharraf had spoken with his eldest son shortly before the attack. His son, Mahim, a 14-year-old ninth-grade student at a local secondary school, recalled their final conversation.
According to Mahim, he spoke with his father via video call at around 8:30 pm on the night of the attack. During the conversation, Mosharraf asked him to purchase clothes for the upcoming Eid festival and assured him that he would send money after the evening meal. However, within half an hour of that call, the missile strike occurred, killing him.
Mosharraf’s younger son, Mihan, aged seven, studies in the first grade at a local madrasa. The news of their father’s death has left both children and the wider family devastated.
Family in Mourning
Mosharraf’s wife, Kobori Akter, broke down in tears while recalling their last conversation.
She said she had spoken with him at around 7:00 pm that evening. “Now I do not know how I will raise these two children. Who will look after us?” she lamented.
His father, Sujat Ali, also expressed deep sorrow and appealed to the authorities for assistance in bringing his son’s body back to Bangladesh.
“I will never see my son alive again,” he said. “At least I want his body returned home so that we can see him one last time.”
Local Administration Responds
On Monday morning (9 March), Sakhipur Upazila Nirbahi Officer Abdullah Al Rony visited the bereaved family to offer condolences and assess their situation.
He said the local administration had already begun communicating with relevant authorities and government departments to facilitate the repatriation of Mosharraf’s body as quickly as possible.
“The government will take the necessary steps to bring the body back to Bangladesh,” he said. “We will also ensure that the affected family receives all possible assistance.”
Key Information About the Incident
| Category | Details |
|---|---|
| Victim | Mosharraf Hossain |
| Age | 38 |
| Home District | Tangail, Bangladesh |
| Village | Kirtankhola Madhyapara, Gajaria Union, Sakhipur |
| Occupation | Migrant worker in Saudi Arabia |
| Years Abroad | Approximately 8 years |
| Location of Incident | Al-Kharj Governorate, Saudi Arabia |
| Date of Incident | 8 March |
| Time (Bangladesh) | Around 9:00 pm |
| Surviving Family | Wife and two sons |
Wider Context
Saudi Arabia hosts one of the largest Bangladeshi expatriate communities in the Middle East, with more than two million Bangladeshi workers contributing significantly to the country’s remittance economy. Incidents involving migrant workers often resonate deeply in Bangladesh, where many families depend on overseas income for their livelihoods.
Mosharraf Hossain’s death has therefore not only brought sorrow to his family and village but also highlighted the vulnerabilities faced by migrant workers living far from home.
For now, the grieving family in Sakhipur awaits the return of his body—hoping for one final farewell to a son, husband, and father whose life ended far from the land he worked so hard to support.