Bangladesh has sought copies of the judicial verdicts under which two of its nationals were executed in Saudi Arabia, saying it will discuss the cases with Riyadh and initiate the process of bringing their bodies home once the documents are received.
State Minister for Foreign Affairs Shama Obaed Islam told journalists at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Monday that the verdicts were necessary to establish the identities of the two Bangladeshis, their relationship and the circumstances surrounding their convictions.
“The copies of the verdicts will help us establish their identities and determine what relationship existed between the two,” she said, adding that the government would provide further details after receiving the documents.
Shama said Saudi police had arrested the two individuals in 2023. During the period since their arrest, no member of either family had contacted the Bangladesh government, she added.
The executions in Makkah have raised questions in Dhaka about the information shared with Bangladesh’s diplomatic mission, the judicial proceedings and whether the authorities had been adequately informed before the sentences were carried out.
Earlier while talking to the journalists, State Minister for Foreign Affairs Humaiun Kobir described the incident as deeply regrettable, saying there appeared to have been gaps in information-sharing between the two countries.
“There is certainly a gap in information, and there has been a shortcoming somewhere in this process. We are talking to both sides to investigate the matter,” Kobir told journalists after returning from visits to two countries.
He said Bangladesh had sought an explanation from the Saudi authorities to establish why the information gap had occurred and whether any part of the process had failed.
The minister said Dhaka maintained a strong relationship with Riyadh, including close ties between the countries’ leaders, but the circumstances surrounding the executions had left Bangladesh disappointed.
Kobir said the executions were particularly distressing given the religious significance of Makkah and the purpose for which Muslims travel to the holy city.
He added, however, that any alleged criminal offence would have to be considered under the applicable Saudi laws.
“If what we have heard is correct, it is deeply regrettable and cannot be accepted under any circumstances,” he said, referring to reports about the alleged offences.
Asked whether the families could receive compensation, Kobir said the sentences had already been carried out and that the immediate priority was to establish where the process had failed.
Shama, meanwhile, said the Foreign Ministry was examining information about other Bangladeshis serving prison sentences in Saudi Arabia.
“There are many Bangladeshis serving prison sentences in different parts of Saudi Arabia. They regularly send us lists, and the ministry is examining those as well,” she said.
The government was also trying to contact the families of the two executed men, she added, urging patience until the judicial documents became available.
“Once we receive copies of the verdicts, we will be able to provide more details,” she said.
The request for the verdicts is an important step towards establishing the factual record of the cases.
It could help Bangladesh determine the charges, the legal basis for the death sentences and the sequence of judicial proceedings, as well as clarify what information was communicated to its authorities.
The episode also brings renewed attention to the consular safeguards available to foreign nationals facing criminal proceedings abroad.
Article 36 of the Vienna Convention on Consular Relations provides for communication between detained foreign nationals and their consular representatives, including notification of consular officers when the detained person requests it.
The precise obligations in an individual case depend on the applicable legal framework and the circumstances.
Consular access does not exempt foreign nationals from the host country’s laws, but it can enable diplomatic missions to provide assistance and help families obtain information about proceedings.
For Bangladesh, the issue has wider implications because Saudi Arabia is a major destination for its migrant workers and a key source of remittances.
Ensuring that Bangladeshi nationals receive appropriate consular assistance in criminal cases is therefore an important responsibility for Dhaka.
The government now faces two immediate tasks: obtaining a full account of the judicial proceedings and pursuing the arrangements required to repatriate the bodies.
The timing of the repatriation process will depend on the information received and subsequent discussions with Saudi authorities.
Separately, Shama criticised the Awami League government while responding to journalists’ questions about former prime minister Sheikh Hasina.
She claimed that, for the first time in Bangladesh’s history, the country’s prime minister, the entire Cabinet and even the khatib of Baitul Mukarram National Mosque had left the country within half a day.
She said the episode could not be compared with anything else in the country’s history, adding that discussing Hasina was a waste of time.
Her political remarks came as the Foreign Ministry continued to seek clarification from Saudi Arabia over the executions, with the government awaiting the court documents before providing a fuller account of the cases.