DHAKA, Oct 18: Bangladesh has sought a detailed explanation from Saudi Arabia over the execution of two Bangladeshi nationals, alleging that neither the government in Dhaka nor its diplomatic mission in Riyadh was informed about the legal proceedings before the sentences were carried out.
Mohammad Nazrul Islam, secretary of the Foreign Ministry’s East and West Asia Division, discussed the matter with Saudi Ambassador Abdullah Zafer H bin Abiyah, officials said on Sunday.
During the meeting, Bangladesh requested comprehensive details regarding the circumstances surrounding the executions. A formal diplomatic note, known as a note verbale, was handed over to the Saudi envoy after an electronic copy had also been sent, a Foreign Ministry official said.
The official clarified that the Saudi ambassador had not been summoned and that the interaction was a scheduled meeting.
According to information provided by Bangladesh’s embassy in Riyadh, the two nationals, a man and a woman, were accused of committing adultery inside a mosque in Makkah. Saudi authorities subsequently arrested them, conducted legal proceedings, sentenced them and carried out the executions.
Bangladesh’s Foreign Ministry said it had received no advance notification of the proceedings. The government learned about the executions only after they took place on October 14.
Gulf News, quoting Saudi Arabia’s Interior Ministry, reported that the sentences were imposed after a court considered the seriousness of the alleged offence, the violation of the mosque’s sanctity and the circumstances surrounding the incident.
State Minister for Foreign Affairs Shama Obaed Islam said on Saturday that Bangladesh had formally requested further information from the Saudi government. She reiterated that Dhaka became aware of the case on the day the executions were conducted.
Asked whether the lack of prior notification amounted to a violation of the Vienna Convention on Consular Relations, Shama said she would refrain from reaching a conclusion until Riyadh provided a complete account of the proceedings.
“I do not wish to comment at this stage on why the mission was not notified, as the Saudi government has not yet provided us with complete details,” she said.
Describing the incident as “deeply unfortunate”, the minister also urged Bangladeshi nationals living abroad to remain mindful of the laws and regulations of their host countries. She said the case offered a significant lesson for the country’s expatriate community.
On the question of bringing the bodies back to Bangladesh, Shama said the government would determine its next steps after receiving a clear explanation from Saudi authorities.
The executions have triggered public concern in Bangladesh, particularly over whether its citizens receive appropriate consular assistance and whether diplomatic missions are informed when nationals face serious criminal charges overseas.
Dhaka is now awaiting Riyadh’s response to its formal request for clarification, including details of the judicial process and the reasons its diplomatic mission was not notified before the sentences were carried out.