Bangladesh has expressed concern to Saudi Arabia over the execution of two Bangladeshi nationals without prior notification to Dhaka, raising questions about communication between the two countries over the cases.
The concern was conveyed to Saudi Ambassador to Bangladesh Dr Abdullah bin Zafer Abiyah during a meeting with Foreign Ministry Secretary Md Nazrul Islam on Sunday. The ambassador was informally invited to the ministry for a meeting described as having “a cup of tea”.
Dhaka raised the issue after learning about the executions from a Saudi government press release issued on Wednesday, rather than through diplomatic channels before the sentences were carried out.
A senior Foreign Ministry official said Bangladesh’s missions in Riyadh and Jeddah had already sought clarification from the Saudi authorities. The issue was raised again directly with the ambassador during Sunday’s meeting.
“We expressed our concern and clarified our position that Bangladesh should have been informed before the execution,” the official said.
The lack of prior notification has raised concerns over the role of Bangladesh’s diplomatic missions in obtaining timely information about the legal proceedings and executions of Bangladeshi nationals in Saudi Arabia.
The official said the meeting also covered bilateral issues of mutual interest, but did not disclose further details.
Saudi Arabia is a major destination for Bangladeshi migrant workers and a key source of remittances. The protection of Bangladeshi nationals, including those facing criminal proceedings, remains an important responsibility of Dhaka’s diplomatic missions in the kingdom.
The Foreign Ministry has not publicly disclosed the full details of the cases, including the circumstances of the executions or whether Bangladesh had previously received information about the legal proceedings against the two nationals.
