Bangladesh seeks Saudi files on 2 nationals executed in Makkah

Bangladesh sought Saudi court records and explanations on Oct. 21 after 2 nationals were executed on Oct. 14, Khaleej Times reported in a news article citing Reuters and Bangladeshi officials.

The Oct. 21 news article said Saudi Arabia is Bangladesh's largest overseas labour market, with an estimated 3.5 million Bangladeshi workers, making migrant welfare a central bilateral issue.

Reuters quoted Bangladesh foreign ministry spokesperson Shahidul Karim as saying Dhaka requested copies of the court verdicts, details of the offences and an explanation of why Bangladesh's diplomatic mission was not informed.

Bangladesh State Minister for Foreign Affairs Shama Obaed Islam said the government would decide on next steps after receiving case documents and discussing the matter with Saudi authorities, according to Khaleej Times.

Saudi Arabia's interior ministry said Nazrul Islam Abdul Basir and Siti Akhtar, both Bangladeshi nationals, were apprehended by security authorities, charged and referred to the competent court. The ministry said they were sentenced to death under ta'zir, a discretionary punishment under Islamic law, after a court found them guilty of committing an indecent act inside a mosque in Makkah.

The Saudi statement did not give further details of the reported incident or identify the mosque. The punishment was carried out on Oct. 14, according to the ministry statement cited by Khaleej Times.

The case has drawn attention in part because of online material circulating after the executions, and Saudi Arabia said on Tuesday, Oct. 20, that a viral video attributed to the execution of the 2 Bangladeshis was misleading. "The video being circulated with this claim is false and is not evidence of their execution," The Holy Mosques X account said.

Saudi authorities also said they were committed to maintaining security, upholding justice and enforcing Islamic law against those who violate the sanctity of mosques or commit offences against the honour of others, according to Khaleej Times.

For Dhaka, the immediate issue is consular process: whether its mission was notified, what judicial documents Saudi authorities will provide, and how the Bangladeshi government responds after reviewing the case file. The Khaleej Times report did not include a Saudi response to Bangladesh's request.