Bangladesh awaits Saudi response on execution of two nationals
Saudi Arabia has not yet responded to formal queries from Dhaka regarding the October 14 execution of two Bangladeshi nationals, foreign ministry spokesperson Shahidul Karim stated on Wednesday, according to Reuters. State Minister for Foreign Affairs Shama Obaed Islam stated earlier in the week that Bangladesh sought clarification on the circumstances of the executions, copies of court verdicts, details about the offenses, and an explanation of why the diplomatic mission received no prior notice.
Execution Carried Out Without Prior Diplomatic Notice
The Saudi interior ministry announced that a Bangladeshi man and woman were executed after being convicted of committing indecent acts inside a mosque in the holy city of Makkah, Saudi media reported. The Saudi interior ministry said they were executed due to “the gravity and seriousness of their actions in violating the sanctity of both time and place,” reports the AP.
A confidential consular memo obtained by The Daily Star shows the two executed citizens were Nazrul Islam Abdul Basir and Suety Akhter, also identified by her family as Sweety Akhtar. The memo reveals both had been detained since August 2023 on separate allegations—Nazrul under cybercrime laws and Suety on allegations of adultery—while working as cleaners for Al Majal Company. A prisoner list received by the Bangladesh Consulate General in Jeddah on September 30 included brief descriptions of 97 prisoners but contained no mention of death sentences.
Families Seek Answers as Saudi Labor Market Faces Uncertainty
Saudi Arabia serves as Bangladesh’s largest overseas labor market, hosting an estimated 3.5 million Bangladeshi workers who send home vital remittances. Families and labor advocates are confronting deep uncertainty. Fazal Mia, a day laborer in Tangail and the father of Sweety Akhtar, told The Daily Star that he learned of his daughter’s execution through news reports rather than official channels, stating his family wants answers and her return. State Minister Islam emphasized that the government is committed to safeguarding the welfare of citizens abroad and will decide on next steps, such as repatriating the bodies, after reviewing details from Saudi authorities.
Rights organizations point out that capital punishment in the kingdom remains high, with human rights groups estimating roughly 190 executions have taken place this year. Prior diplomatic friction over capital cases involving foreign nationals includes a 2011 public execution of eight Bangladeshi men in Riyadh following a conviction for killing an Egyptian, alongside recent clemency cases involving foreign citizens from other nations.
Diplomatic Next Steps Await Case File Delivery
Official communication channels between Dhaka and Riyadh remain active, yet awaiting the requested documentation stalls formal bilateral decisions. The Saudi embassy in Dhaka did not immediately respond to requests for comment. As families wait for consular updates and official repatriation procedures, diplomatic representatives continue to urge transparent communication regarding penal processes involving foreign nationals.