Death sentence recipient Nazrul worked as cleaner at same mosque

Nazrul Islam, whose death sentence was executed on charges of ‘immoral’ activities in a mosque in Makkah of Saudi Arabia along with Sithi Akhtar, used to work as a cleaner at the same mosque. While talking to family members over phone before the execution of the death sentence he had informed that he had a love affair with Sithi Akhtar. However he did not give the family any detailed information about the charges on which he had been detained.

These pieces of information have come out in a report of BBC Bangla. The report said that among the two Bangladeshis whose death sentences were executed in Saudi Arabia, Nazrul Islam’s home is in Brahmanbaria Sadar upazila. His mother Rahima Begum has informed that her son had talked to the family from the Saudi jail even on Sunday. Three days later they came to know of the news of the execution of the death sentence on Wednesday evening through the media.

Rahima Begum said, “He was taken to jail just six months after going there. My son contacted us one month after being taken to jail. At that time he was saying, mother, they will keep me in jail and then release me. We talked even on Sunday. And on Wednesday we heard of this incident.”

Another family member has informed that towards the end Nazrul had told them that he had a love affair with Sithi Akhtar. However no confirmed information has been available on whether there is any link between this relationship and the charges brought against him.

Nazrul’s mother informed that her son went to Saudi Arabia on November 10, 2022 through a broker. Nazrul, who passed Dakhil from a madrasa, is the eldest among two brothers and two sisters. He had gone abroad to overcome the family’s financial hardship. He used to work as a cleaner there.

The mother informed that police detained him about six months after going to Saudi Arabia. She has heard her son say that one day after going to the workplace a police vehicle came and took him away. However Nazrul did not clearly inform the family why he had been detained.

Family members said that after going to jail Nazrul used to talk to them briefly over phone almost every week. He talked to the family even three days before the execution of the death sentence. However he did not give any indication about the impending death sentence.

Rahima Begum said, “We knew he was in jail. But that such a thing would happen, my son also did not say anything. Then after the news came on Wednesday evening we came to know from people.”

She has demanded arrangements for the quick repatriation of her son’s body to the country and justice in the incident. Her plea is, “I have not seen my son’s face for three years and three months. I want to see my son’s face for the last time.”

According to reports of Saudi media, two Bangladeshis have been convicted and their death sentences executed on charges of ‘immoral’ activities in a mosque in Makkah. However the governments of Saudi Arabia and Bangladesh have not yet officially disclosed their identities.

State Minister for Foreign Affairs Shama Obaid has informed that the government has come to know that the two Bangladeshis were detained in 2023. A letter has been sent to the Saudi authorities seeking a copy of the verdict of the case against them. She has said that detailed information will be provided after receiving the copy of the verdict.

Meanwhile the Bangladesh Foreign Ministry has called Saudi Ambassador to Dhaka Abdullah bin Zafar H bin Abiye for a meeting to know the details of the incident of execution of the death sentences.

UK-based international law expert Raihan Rashid has said that if any citizen is arrested abroad he has the right to receive consular assistance from the embassy of his own country. There is a provision in this regard in Article 36 of the 1963 Vienna Convention on Consular Relations. In his view, the matter of Nazrul receiving consular assistance should have been taken seriously right from the time of detention.

Brahmanbaria Deputy Commissioner Md. Abusaeed has informed that they have not yet received any official information on whether one of the persons whose death sentences were executed is Nazrul of Brahmanbaria.