One of the Bangladeshis executed in Saudi Arabia was a migrant worker, other an umrah pilgrim: Minister

One of the two Bangladeshis whose death sentences were carried out in Mecca was a migrant worker, while the other had travelled there to perform Umrah, Bangladesh’s expatriates’ welfare minister has said.

One was from Bogura and the other from Cumilla.

Expatriates’ Welfare and Overseas Employment Minister Ariful Haque Chowdhury disclosed the information to journalists at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport on Monday.

He said their bodies would be brought back to Bangladesh once air travel and the overall situation returned to normal.

Saudi Arabia’s interior ministry earlier announced that the death sentences of two Bangladeshis convicted of committing an “immoral act” at a mosque in Mecca had been carried out on Wednesday.

According to Saudi-based news outlet Ajel, the two were named Nazrul Islam Abdul Basir and Sithi Akter.

According to Saudi authorities, security forces arrested the two, conducted an investigation and brought charges against them. The case was subsequently referred to court, where they were found guilty.

However, Saudi authorities did not formally inform Bangladesh before carrying out the executions.

Bangladesh learned of the matter after reports appeared in the media. The Bangladesh Consulate in Jeddah has since written to the Saudi foreign ministry seeking details of the case.

In a letter sent on Thursday, the consulate requested information about the identities of the two Bangladeshis, the charges against them and the judicial proceedings. The information was confirmed by sources at Bangladesh’s foreign ministry in Dhaka and the consulate in Jeddah.

A consular official said Saudi authorities had not formally notified Bangladesh about the arrests, trials or executions. The mission became aware of the matter after it was reported by Saudi Arabia’s state news agency.

The information released by Saudi authorities contained only the names of the two individuals, without sufficient details to establish their identities. Their passport, residency permit (iqama) and nationality records were also unavailable. The consulate therefore contacted the Saudi authorities to obtain a fuller account of the case.

According to Middle East-based news outlet Gulf News, the death sentences were imposed under the ta’zir provisions of Sharia law, which allow judges discretion in determining punishment. Higher judicial authorities subsequently upheld the verdicts.

It remains unclear whether lawyers were appointed to represent the two Bangladeshis, whether they had an opportunity to appeal or whether they sought consular assistance.

Article 36 of the Vienna Convention on Consular Relations provides for communication between detained foreign nationals and their consulates. Under the article, when a foreign national is arrested, the detaining country must inform the relevant consulate without delay if the person requests it and allow consular assistance. It is not known whether either of the two Bangladeshis asked for the consulate to be notified.

Several officials at Bangladesh’s foreign ministry, speaking on condition of anonymity, said it was necessary to investigate why the Bangladesh mission had not been informed in advance. Further details about the men’s identities and the judicial proceedings may emerge once the Saudi authorities respond to the consulate’s request.