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Saudi authorities did not inform the Bangladesh Embassy or consulate in advance about the execution of two Bangladeshi nationals in Saudi Arabia. They also did not formally notify the Bangladeshi mission after carrying out the executions.
The information was disclosed in a letter sent by the Labour Welfare Wing of the Bangladesh Consulate General in Jeddah to the Ministry of Expatriates’ Welfare and Overseas Employment on October 18.
According to the letter, the Jeddah consulate had requested information from the Saudi Ministry of Foreign Affairs about Bangladeshi nationals detained for various offences in prisons across western Saudi Arabia. In response, the consulate received a list on September 30 that included the names of Nazrul and Sweety. However, the list contained no information about their sentences.
According to the information received, the two had worked as cleaners for a Saudi company named Al Majal.
The list showed that Nazrul was arrested on August 1, 2023, on allegations of committing an information technology-related crime. Sweety was arrested the following day on an adultery charge. Nazrul was held at the Jeddah Correctional Facility, while Sweety was detained at the Jeddah Women’s Prison. The letter said the list did not mention any sentences imposed on either of them.
The consulate’s letter also noted that there had been no previous known cases of Bangladeshi nationals being sentenced to death in Saudi Arabia for information technology-related crimes or adultery.
According to the letter, a total of 306 Bangladeshis were listed as detained in prisons across western Saudi Arabia in connection with various morality-related cases. Of them, 147 had been sentenced to prison terms ranging from one month to 15 years.
The consulate said it had received no application from the families of the two executed Bangladeshis seeking legal assistance, nor had their families contacted the mission. Saudi authorities had also provided no information about the pronouncement of the death sentences or their execution.
The letter added that the consulate had sent a diplomatic note to the Makkah branch of the Saudi Ministry of Foreign Affairs seeking copies of the verdicts and detailed information about the cases.
The consulate said it would submit a detailed report after receiving copies of the court verdicts.
