Two Bangladeshi nationals have been executed in Saudi Arabia after being convicted of an «immoral act» inside a mosque in Mecca. Bangladeshi diplomats have requested an explanation, saying they received no prior notification of the executions, bdnews24.com reported.
The death sentences of Nazrul Islam Abdul Basir (Bashir) and Siti Akhtar (Sweety Akter) were carried out on Oct. 14 in the Mecca region.
Details of the charges
According to Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Interior, the court imposed the death penalty, citing the gravity of the offense and the violation of the mosque’s sanctity. After the verdict was upheld, a royal decree was issued authorizing the executions.
Saudi authorities reported that the two had committed an «immoral act» inside the mosque but did not specify the nature of their actions. Citing the Bangladeshi diplomatic mission, The Daily Star reported that the charge involved adultery.
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Meanwhile, claims circulating on social media that the man had merely held the woman’s hand or kissed her remain unconfirmed.
Nazrul’s mother also disputed reports that the two were newlyweds. According to Siti’s mother, the woman has a daughter from a previous relationship.
Family seeks return of the body
According to his relatives, Nazrul arrived in Saudi Arabia in November 2022 and worked as a cleaner. His father had borrowed 700,000 Bangladeshi taka to cover the cost of his son’s travel, hoping that his earnings would help the family escape poverty.
The family said it had received no warning of the impending execution and learned of Nazrul’s death only through media reports.
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His father said that creditors were pressuring him to repay the debt and that he wanted his son’s body returned to Bangladesh. He added that if the execution had been carried out without sufficient grounds, he wanted justice.
Nazrul’s mother also rejected social media claims that the two people executed were newlyweds. According to The Business Standard, she said her son was not married and that the family had no prior knowledge of the woman.
Bangladesh seeks clarification
On Oct. 18, representatives of Bangladesh’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs met with the Saudi ambassador and handed him a copy of a diplomatic note. Dhaka requested information about the charges, the judicial proceedings and the executions.
According to a representative of the Bangladeshi consulate in Jeddah, the authorities had received no prior notification of the legal proceedings or executions through diplomatic channels. Bangladeshi officials are seeking further details about the case.