Bangladeshi worker among 15 killed in Russia gas plant fire

A Bangladeshi worker was among 15 people killed in a fire at the Amur Gas Chemical Complex in Russia’s Far Eastern Amur region on Tuesday (25 August), the Bangladesh Embassy in Moscow has confirmed.

The deceased was identified as Zakir Hossain, a resident of Bhairab in Kishoreganj. His body has been recovered and the embassy is making arrangements to repatriate it to Bangladesh.

Another Bangladeshi worker, Md Alal Hossain Raju of Gangni in Meherpur, remains missing. Some of the bodies were severely burnt and could not yet be identified, raising the possibility that Raju could be among the unidentified remains, embassy officials said.

Seven other Bangladeshi workers were seriously injured, with six currently in intensive care. They are being transferred to specialised medical facilities in Moscow for treatment.

The fire broke out at the AGCC, a major gas-chemical project in Russia’s Amur region. The complex is a joint venture between Russia’s Sibur and China’s Sinopec and remains under construction.

The Bangladesh Foreign Ministry and the embassy in Moscow are maintaining regular contact with Russian authorities over the injured workers’ treatment and the overall situation.

The embassy is also communicating with Sinopec Engineering Group LLC regarding Zakir’s outstanding dues and compensation and is taking the necessary steps to send his body home.

The Foreign Ministry has expressed deep condolences to the affected Bangladeshi workers and their families, as well as to the Russian people and government.