Bangladesh seeks Saudi clarification over execution of two nationals
Bangladesh has formally sought detailed information from Saudi Arabia over the execution of two Bangladeshi nationals, as neither the foreign ministry nor its diplomatic mission was informed before the sentences were carried out.
“The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has sent a letter to the Saudi government seeking detailed information about the incident,” State Minister for Foreign Affairs Shama Obaed Islam told reporters at a media briefing at her ministry office this evening.
She said Bangladesh came to know on October 14 that two Bangladeshi expatriate workers had been sentenced to death under Saudi Arabian law and that their sentences had already been executed.
“Neither our foreign ministry nor our mission in Saudi Arabia was informed about the matter beforehand,” the junior minister said.
Shama said Bangladesh sought clarification about the circumstances surrounding the executions, including the offences involved, the judicial proceedings and the reasons the Bangladesh mission was not notified.
She said the Bangladesh mission had also informed the Ministry of Expatriates' Welfare and Overseas Employment about the incident, sharing preliminary information received through its Labour Welfare Wing.
“We have not yet received detailed official information from the Saudi government. We will have to wait for their response,” she said.
Shama said the authorities had identified the two Bangladeshis by name but still awaited details about their employment, employers, duration of stay in Saudi Arabia and the circumstances leading to their executions.
She stressed that Bangladeshi expatriates must respect the laws of their host countries, while acknowledging that the executions were deeply unfortunate.
The state minister, however, said every country has its own legal framework and the laws of the countries concerned prevail within its jurisdiction..
She said the government remained concerned about the welfare and protection of Bangladeshi nationals abroad and particularly in Saudi Arabia in view of the security situation there amid the ongoing regional conflict since more than four million Bangladeshi expatriates were working there.
The state minister said several Bangladeshis had been killed or injured in recent attacks, while some injured nationals remained hospitalized while the government was also working to return the bodies of the dread Bangladeshis killed in those attacks,.
Shama reaffirmed that Bangladesh maintained strong bilateral relations with Saudi Arabia, noting that Prime Minister Tarique Rahman had held several meetings with Saudi representatives since the formation of the new government.
She said preparations were also underway for the premier’s Saudi Arabia visit responding to an invitation from Riyadh.
