Four Bangladeshi nationals have now been confirmed dead following the fire that broke out at the Amur Gas Chemical Complex (AGCC) in Russia’s Far Eastern Amur Oblast, according to the Bangladesh Embassy in Moscow.

The fourth victim, Mahin Uddin of Narsingdi, died while undergoing treatment at a hospital in Moscow on Friday, said Mizanur Rahman, first secretary (labour) at the Bangladesh Embassy in Moscow.

Mizanur said he visited Mahin at the hospital on Wednesday when he was receiving treatment.

“Mahin died on Friday morning while undergoing treatment. He was still able to speak the day before yesterday and even talked to his family over a video call,” he said.

A major fire broke out at the AGCC near the town of Svobodny on 25 August. The complex initially reported seven deaths, including six Chinese nationals, but later revised the figure, saying 14 foreign nationals had died in the fire.

The AGCC said the fire originated in a support section of the complex’s pyrolysis unit before spreading, but the blaze did not damage the facility’s main equipment.

The AGCC is being developed through a joint venture between Russian petrochemical giant SIBUR and China’s state-owned oil and gas company Sinopec. The nearly $10 billion project is expected to become one of the world’s largest polymer production facilities and was undergoing final testing ahead of its planned commissioning early next year, The Moscow Times reported.

On 27 August, two days after the incident, Mizanur confirmed the death of one Bangladeshi worker and said another was missing. The embassy later confirmed the death of a third Bangladeshi, Abdul Quddus.

The first two victims were identified as Zakir Hossain of Bhairab in Kishoreganj and Md Alal Hossain Raju of Gangni in Meherpur. Abdul Quddus was from Pangsha in Rajbari, while Mahin Uddin was from Narsingdi.

Mizanur said the bodies of Zakir and Raju had undergone post-mortems and been placed in coffins. They are expected to be flown to Dhaka on a cargo aircraft by 9 September for handover to their families.

“It may take another six to seven days to complete the necessary procedures for the bodies of Abdul Quddus and Mahin Uddin, who died at a Moscow hospital. They will be sent to Bangladesh afterwards,” he said.

According to Mizanur, 36 Bangladeshis were injured in the fire. One remains hospitalised in serious condition, while the others have been discharged after receiving treatment.

Ajkaler Khobor/MK