Bangladesh has sought detailed official information from Saudi Arabia over the execution of two of its nationals last week, saying neither its Ministry of Foreign Affairs nor its diplomatic mission in the Kingdom received prior notification.
Bangladesh raised the matter with Saudi Ambassador to Bangladesh, Dr Abdullah Zafer bin Abiyah, during a meeting on Sunday, according to officials in Dhaka.
Foreign Secretary (East & West) Dr Muhammad Nazrul Islam requested detailed information about the executions during the meeting. Officials clarified that the Saudi envoy had not been “summoned”.
Despite seeking answers, Bangladesh expressed confidence that the incident would not affect the strong bilateral relations between the two countries. Both sides also discussed the importance of complying with the laws of the host country.
The two countries expressed satisfaction with the steady progress of cooperation across various sectors.
On Saturday, Bangladesh’s State Minister for Foreign Affairs, Shama Obaid Islam, said the government had yet to receive detailed official information from Saudi authorities about the execution of a Bangladeshi man and a woman, describing the news as unexpected.
“We have yet to receive any official detailed information from the Saudi government,” she told reporters, adding that Dhaka had sent a letter to the Saudi government requesting details.
“On October 14, we learned that two Bangladeshi nationals had been sentenced to death under Saudi Arabian law and that the executions had been carried out,” she said, noting that neither the Ministry of Foreign Affairs nor the Bangladesh mission in Saudi Arabia had been informed in advance.
“We wanted to know whatever we needed to know. Let the reply come. I will be able to let you know,” Shama said.
Saudi media had earlier reported that the Kingdom executed the two Bangladeshis after they were convicted of committing “indecent acts” inside a mosque in the holy city of Makkah.
According to the reports, the court imposed the death sentences because of the seriousness of the offence, the violation of the mosque’s sanctity and the circumstances surrounding the acts.
Saudi authorities identified the two nationals as Nazrul Islam Abdul Basir and Siti Akhtar.
“The execution of two Bangladeshis in Saudi Arabia serves as a major lesson for us,” Shama said.
She added that arrangements could be made to repatriate the bodies once Bangladesh received a response to its letter from Saudi authorities.
Faridah Abdulkadiri
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