New Delhi: Bangladesh is seeking answers from Saudi Arabia after discovering that a recent prisoner list shared by the kingdom did not disclose the death sentences imposed on two Bangladeshis who were executed in Makkah on October 14. Dhaka is awaiting the court verdict and a formal explanation from Riyadh to establish what happened and why its diplomatic mission was not informed beforehand.
According to Bangladeshi authorities, a list of about 2,500 prisoners shared by Saudi Arabia with Bangladesh’s mission included the names of Nazrul Islam Abdul Basir and Sweety Akhtar, but it did not mention their death sentences or provide sufficient details to link the entries to their subsequent executions.
Saudi authorities accused the two of committing an “indecent act” inside a mosque in Makkah. The BBC reported that they were sentenced under tazir, a category of punishment in Islamic law that allows judicial discretion, with the court citing the seriousness of the offence and the mosque’s sanctity.
Bangladesh demands clarification
Following the executions, Bangladesh sought further information from Saudi Arabia during a meeting on October 18 between the Bangladesh foreign ministry secretary, Mohammed Nazrul Islam, and the Saudi ambassador, Abdullah Zafer bin Abiyah. Dhaka said the executions had taken place without prior notification to its foreign ministry or mission in Saudi Arabia, and it is awaiting an official response to its request for details, according to UNB.
The Bangladeshi state minister for foreign affairs, Humaiun Kobir, described the executions as “very disappointing” and said Bangladesh had sought an explanation over a possible lapse in communication, Prothom Alo reported. He added that the government expected foreign countries to inform Bangladesh when its citizens face criminal proceedings abroad so that consular assistance can be provided.
Shama Obaed Islam, another Bangladeshi state minister, said Bangladesh was still waiting for the court verdict before deciding its next steps. The government has also sought details about the two individuals and is considering the repatriation of their bodies once Saudi Arabia responds.
Saudi Arabia’s legal process under scrutiny
The Saudi interior ministry said the two were arrested, tried and sentenced under the kingdom’s laws. Their sentences were upheld by the relevant judicial authorities before a royal order authorized the executions, according to reports citing the ministry.
But Bangladesh has yet to receive the full verdict or a detailed account of the proceedings.
The Bangladesh foreign ministry has asked its mission in Saudi Arabia to review the available information and identify any shortcomings in its own procedures. A consular official told the Daily Star that the mission periodically visits prisons to assist Bangladeshi nationals but had received no requests for assistance from the two individuals.
Bangladesh has also stressed that the incident should not undermine its wider relationship with Saudi Arabia. Kobir said both countries maintained close ties and expressed hope that bilateral cooperation would continue to strengthen.