Riyadh:Dhaka Around 7,500 Bangladeshis are currently imprisoned across various regions in Saudi Arabia, as stated by State Minister for Foreign Affairs, Shama Obaed Islam, on Friday.
According to United News of Bangladesh, Shama Obaed Islam mentioned that these individuals are held on various charges. The state minister noted that investigations are underway to confirm whether the two recently executed Bangladeshis were among those listed. She made these remarks while attending the handover of the body of Md Shahed Ahmed Ashik, a Bangladeshi worker killed in a Houthi missile attack at King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh.
The state minister further stated that detailed information regarding the executions has not yet been received, and the Bangladeshi government has formally requested copies of the verdicts from Saudi authorities to gain a clearer understanding. She emphasized that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs collaborates with the Ministry of Expatriates' Welfare and Overseas Employment and the Ministry of Home Affairs to address legal issues concerning expatriate Bangladeshis. Diplomatic channels are used to advocate for sentence reductions or pardons for Bangladeshis sentenced in Saudi Arabia.
Shama Obaed highlighted the government's commitment to protecting its nationals abroad while respecting other countries' judicial systems. She expressed regret over the lack of prior notification concerning the executions of the two Bangladeshis, Nazrul Islam Abdul Bashir and Sweety Akter, who had been detained since August 2023 on separate charges. The executions were reported in Saudi media citing a statement from the Saudi Ministry of Interior, detailing that the executions occurred in the Makkah region due to allegations of 'indecent acts' inside a mosque. The Bangladesh Embassy and consulate were not informed beforehand, nor were they formally notified post-execution.