The execution of two Bangladeshi nationals in Saudi Arabia on October 14 has become a diplomatic concern for Dhaka, which said on Wednesday that it has yet to receive a response from Riyadh to its queries. The Bangladesh foreign ministry stated that the executions were carried out without notifying Bangladeshi authorities, and the government has formally sought documents and an explanation.
What the Bangladesh Foreign Ministry Has Asked For
Foreign ministry spokesperson Shahidul Karim said that Saudi Arabia has not yet replied to Dhaka’s requests for clarification. State Minister for Foreign Affairs Shama Obaed Islam said earlier this week that the government has sought details of the circumstances of the executions. According to Reuters, Dhaka has asked for copies of the court verdicts, details of the offences, and an explanation of why the Bangladeshi diplomatic mission was not informed.
The Saudi embassy in Dhaka did not immediately respond to a request for comment. The state minister added that the government would decide on its next steps after receiving the case documents and discussing the matter with Saudi authorities.
The Saudi Account of the Case
Saudi Arabia’s Interior Ministry announced the executions on October 14, identifying the two as Nazrul Islam Abdul Basir and Siti Akhtar. A man and a woman were put to death after being convicted of committing indecent acts inside a mosque in the holy city of Makkah, according to Saudi media. The ministry said the sentences were imposed under ta’zir, a form of discretionary punishment under Islamic law, and that the court cited the seriousness of the offence and the sanctity of the place where it occurred. It added that the verdict became final after being upheld by the relevant authority, and that a royal order was issued for its implementation.
The Daily Star reported that the ministry’s statement did not specify the precise nature of the act, identify the mosque, or say when the two were arrested. Those gaps help explain why Dhaka is pressing for the verdicts and charge details.
Questions Over Consular Notification
The Bangladesh Consulate General in Jeddah told the Daily Star on October 15 that it was not notified by the Saudi ministry beforehand. The mission said it had submitted a note verbale to the Saudi Ministry of Foreign Affairs requesting formal acknowledgement of the matter.
A confidential consulate memo dated October 18, obtained by the Daily Star, said the two had been held in detention since August 2023 in connection with separate allegations. The newspaper reported that a prisoner list received by the consulate on September 30 showed Nazrul had been detained on August 1, 2023, under Saudi Arabia’s cybercrime law. The newspaper also reported that the list shared by Saudi authorities did not disclose the death sentences, a point that remains part of the unresolved exchange between the two governments. The same memo put the number of Bangladeshis imprisoned in Saudi Arabia’s western region at 306.
The Daily Star separately reported that Nazrul left Bangladesh in November 2022 to work as a cleaner in Saudi Arabia, and that his family learned of his execution through media reports.
Why the Case Carries Wider Weight for Bangladeshi Migrant Workers
Saudi Arabia is Bangladesh’s largest overseas labour market, according to Reuters. It is home to an estimated 3.5 million Bangladeshi migrant workers, whose remittances are a major source of income for their families and for the national economy. For that reason, Reuters noted, migrant welfare is a key issue in relations between the two countries, and any dispute over the treatment of workers carries political as well as humanitarian significance.
Execution of Two Bangladeshi Nationals: What Happens Next
For now, the case turns on whether Riyadh provides the documents Dhaka has requested. The Saudi Interior Ministry has said the executions followed a full judicial process and reaffirmed the kingdom’s commitment to enforcing Islamic law against those who violate the sanctity of mosques. Bangladesh, for its part, has not announced any further action and has said it will wait for the case details before deciding how to proceed. Until Saudi authorities reply, the execution of two Bangladeshi nationals will remain an open question in relations between the two governments.
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