Dbarta24 Desk — A devastating late-night fire at a grocery store in South Africa’s Eastern Cape province has claimed the lives of six Bangladeshi expatriates and left another critically injured.
The tragedy occurred around 3:00 AM on Tuesday in the Samo area, approximately 150 kilometers from Queenstown (now Komani).
According to local sources, seven Bangladeshi nationals were sleeping in a residential room attached to the shop when a fire suddenly broke out and engulfed the premises.
Six victims died on the spot, while the sole survivor was rescued with severe injuries and rushed to a local hospital in Queenstown, where he remains under medical treatment.
Victims Identified
The deceased have been identified as Md. Fahim (29), Apon Ahmed (23), Nur Mohammad, Md. Faisal, and Md. Shahin—all hailing from the Alirtek and Baktabali union areas under Fatullah Police Station in Narayanganj Sadar Upazila, Bangladesh. The sixth victim was identified as Md. Rajik (55) from Munshiganj.
The critically injured survivor is also reported to be from the Rikabibazar area of Munshiganj.
Heartbreaking Scenes in Hometowns
News of the tragic accident triggered immense shock and grief back in Bangladesh. Grieving families in Narayanganj were seen weeping inconsolably as news of their loved ones’ passing reached home.
Ali Hossain, a local grocer and the father of deceased victim Apon Ahmed, lamented: “Why did I send my son to South Africa? Why did I send him abroad out of poverty? O Allah, why didn’t you take me instead of my boy?” Apon had moved to South Africa four years ago to work at a shop owned by a acquaintance from his hometown.
Siam Hossain, the son of deceased victim Nur Mohammad, recalled his last conversation with his father just hours before the incident: “My father told me he had obtained a 1.5-month work permit to earn a little extra before returning home permanently. I urged him not to wait that long and just come back soon.”
Similarly, the mother of Md. Faisal was seen desperately video-calling her brother-in-law in South Africa, holding out hope for good news: “Out of my one son and one daughter, they say my son is dead. Please brother, find my boy and give me good news.”
Investigation and Background
The exact cause of the fire has not yet been determined. Local South African police have launched a formal investigation into the incident.
Fatal workplace fires involving Bangladeshi traders in South Africa have occurred periodically in recent years.
In October 2018, four Bangladeshis—including three members of a single family from Feni—died in a shop fire in Brits, North West Province.
More recently, in October 2024, two Bangladeshi nationals lost their lives in a commercial complex blaze in Pietermaritzburg, KwaZulu-Natal province.