Bangladeshi Mufti Nasrullah Al-Badr Killed in Riyadh Airport Missile Strike

Mufti Nasrullah Al-Badr, 35, from Bangladesh, has been killed in a missile strike at King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, while travelling to perform Umrah. His death has left his wife and three young children facing an uncertain future.

Nasrullah was the son of Maulana Mohammad Ullah, a resident of Badrpur Olama Bari in Dhallua Union of Nangalkot upazila, Cumilla. He served at Jamia Arabia Rabiul Ulum Madrasa in Kamrangirchar, Dhaka.

According to a press release issued by Bangladesh’s Ministry of Expatriates’ Welfare and Overseas Employment on Sunday, a missile struck Terminal 3 at King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh at 3:20 pm local time on Saturday, October 10. Passengers from Bangladesh and other countries were waiting at the airport at the time. Twelve people, including two Bangladeshis, were killed. Nasrullah was one of the Bangladeshi victims. The other was Md Shahed Ahmed from Bogura.

Strike During Transit to Jeddah
Nasrullah’s elder brother, Maulana Ahsan Ullah Badr, said Nasrullah had set out on Saturday morning to perform Umrah, leading a group of 45 teachers and staff members from his madrasa.

According to his brother, Nasrullah first arrived at King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh and completed the boarding process for a flight to Jeddah. As he was responsible for the group, he was standing near the front. They planned to travel from Jeddah to the holy city of Makkah to perform Umrah.

Ahsan Ullah said the missile struck only about 10 to 15 cubits—roughly 15 to 23 feet—in front of Nasrullah, leaving him critically injured. He was taken to hospital, but his family initially struggled to obtain information about his whereabouts.

The family later received assistance in tracing him from the Ministry of Religious Affairs and the Bangladesh Embassy. At around 4 pm on Sunday, they learned of his death. The owner of the travel agency through which Nasrullah had travelled to Saudi Arabia subsequently sent the family his death certificate.

Wife and Three Children Left Behind
Nasrullah lived in a rented home in Kamrangirchar, Dhaka, with his wife, Mahbub Akhtar, and their three children: seven-year-old Jamil Hasan, five-year-old Nabila Akhtar and two-year-old Md Jawad.

His death has raised concerns about the future of his wife and children. They are currently staying at the family home in Badrpur village.

Ahsan Ullah has urged the government to take prompt steps to bring Nasrullah’s body back to Bangladesh and ensure appropriate compensation for his wife and children.

Nasrullah’s father, Mohammad Ullah, said he last spoke to his son after he arrived at the airport. They had no further contact until the family received news of his death on Sunday afternoon.

Abu Raihan, the upazila nirbahi officer (UNO) of Nangalkot, said he had offered condolences to the family and that the administration would provide the necessary assistance to bring the body back to Bangladesh.