Officials at the Bangladesh mission in Jeddah made no effort to protect two citizens who were executed in Saudi Arabia last week, exposing their negligence and inaction in providing legal assistance to the remittance heroes who keep the country’s economy running.
Sources at the foreign ministry confirmed that the mission officials had information about the imprisonment of the two nationals, but their failure to provide legal assistance to the victims hastened their execution.
“If engaged with the Saudi authorities without any delay, their capital punishment could have been deferred or judgement might be altered,” a former diplomat, who served in the Middle East, told TIMES.
Nazrul Islam and Sweety Akhtar were executed in Jeddah last week on charges of adultery and cybercrime after a lengthy trial procedure for over three years. The mission officials had ample time to locate them and provide legal support.
“The Saudi authorities did inform us through the prison list describing their offence, but they didn’t mention the punishment,” an official of the foreign ministry, who also worked in Saudia Arabia, said on condition of anonymity as he was not authorised to speak with the press.
Another ministry official, who also served in the Kingdom country said, usually those who work in the labour wing are aware of the Saudi legal system and punishment of such charges is death penalty. “But they didn’t make any effort to contact with the Saudi authorities to know more about the cases.”
Nazrul and Sweety were among the prisoners whose names appeared on a routine list shared by Saudi authorities with Jeddah mission on 30 September. The list identified the offences – cybercrime and adultery – attributed to them but did not specify that they had been sentenced to death.
Jeddah is the largest Bangladeshi mission manned by over 100 officials and employees. It has a strong labour wing which provides legal assistance to the victims.
Nearly four million Bangladeshis, residing in Saudi Arabia, sent about $6 billion as remittance last year. Although their remittance helps country in meeting its economic needs, the expatriates are often treated improperly by the public officials.
The latest case of the execution is a sad example of how the inaction of the officers led to the death of two Bangladeshis, which could have been saved had there been timely intervention.
Similarly, the government’s response in Dhaka is frustrating.
While the government is repeatedly saying it has sought legal documents from Riyadh, it has not disclosed whether officials at the missions in Jeddah or Riyadh have been asked to explain their inaction, investigated or subjected to disciplinary action.
Those questions warrant a formal investigation, not merely repeated statements that Dhaka is seeking documents from Riyadh.
A former Bangladeshi diplomat, speaking on condition of anonymity, described the apparent lack of action as negligence.
“It’s sheer negligence and lack of responsibility. The mission should have immediately engaged with the authorities as the crimes were stated by the Saudis. It’s not a petty crime; rather, the maximum punishment is the death penalty,” he told TIMES, questioning why no action had been announced against the officials responsible for consular protection.
“How come not a single diplomat or labour counsellor has been punished, recalled or asked for an explanation?” questioned the former diplomat, adding, “If this immunity continues, we will see similar incidents in the future, as government officials responsible for providing consular protection will see that nothing happens if they commit any wrongdoing.”
According to available accounts, both Bangladeshis worked as cleaners for Al Majal Company in Saudi Arabia. Nazrul was detained on 1 August 2023, over cybercrime allegations, while Sweety was detained the following day on allegations of adultery.
The Saudi Ministry of Interior said the two were arrested, investigated and tried for violating the sanctity of a mosque in Makkah. A competent court found them guilty of a serious ta’zir offence, for which punishment is determined through judicial discretion, and a royal order approved their death sentences.
Shariful Islam Hasan, associate director of BRAC’s Migration Programme and Youth Platform, criticised the government’s response, saying inadequate protection may encourage foreign authorities to assume that serious actions against Bangladeshi nationals will not trigger a sufficiently strong response from Dhaka.
“The government should take responsibility, penalise the corrupt and irresponsible officers, and engage with foreign governments to explain that they cannot do whatever they want when penalising Bangladeshis,” he told TIMES.
