Bangladesh has sought clarification from Saudi Arabia following the execution of two Bangladeshi nationals in Mecca, saying its authorities were not informed of the executions beforehand, according to local media reports.
A Bangladeshi man and woman were executed last Wednesday after being convicted of committing what Saudi authorities described as an “indecent act” inside a mosque.
The Saudi Interior Ministry did not disclose the precise nature of the offence but said the two individuals had been sentenced to death under ta’zir, a provision of Islamic law under which punishments are determined at judicial discretion.
According to the ministry, the death sentences reflected the seriousness of the offence and the violation of the mosque’s sanctity.
Bangladesh’s State Minister for Foreign Affairs, Shama Obaed Islam, said Dhaka had contacted the Saudi government to request further information about the allegations and the legal proceedings that resulted in the executions.
She said the government would consider its next steps, including possible repatriation of the bodies, once Saudi authorities provided the requested details.
The executions have generated concern in Bangladesh, particularly because officials say they received no advance notification.
Saudi Arabia is home to more than three million Bangladeshi nationals, many of whom are employed in relatively low-paid occupations.
The two countries maintain close diplomatic and economic relations, supported by religious ties and the substantial Bangladeshi workforce in the kingdom.
Bangladeshi authorities are awaiting further information from Riyadh regarding the circumstances of the case and the judicial process followed before the executions.