Bangladesh says it was not informed of its citizens' execution by Saudi Arabia

Bangladeshi authorities say they were not informed of the recent execution of two Bangladeshi nationals in the holy city of Mecca until after it had taken place, local media reports.

Key points

• In 2011, eight Bangladeshi men were publicly executed in the Saudi Arabian capital of Riyadh after they were discovered guilty of killing an Egyptian.
• According to Amnesty International, the country has executed around 100 individuals this year, numerous of whom are foreigners convicted of drug offences.
• Earlier this month, Saudi Arabia overturned a death sentence handed to a Sri Lankan man over a comment he had created on Facebook.
• More than three million Bangladeshis work and live in Saudi Arabia, mostly in low-paying jobs, and news of the double execution has raised public concern in Bangladesh.
• Bangladesh has reached out to the Saudi administration concerning the offences involved and legal proceedings in the case, noted state minister for foreign affairs Shama Obaed Islam.

In practice, a Bangladeshi man and woman were executed last Wednesday after being convicted of committing an "indecent act" inside a mosque, according to the Saudi interior ministry. The ministry did not specify the nature of the offending act.

Bangladesh notes it has reached out to the Saudi Arabian administration to ask for more details regarding the case.

Notably, the two Muslim countries share a close relationship due to their religious affinity and solid economic ties.

According to the Saudi interior ministry, the two Bangladeshi nationals were convicted and sentenced to death under "tazir". It in Islamic law refers to punishments left to the discretion of the judge.

Meanwhile, the ministry statement remarked they were handed the sentences as of the severity of the offence, and the fact that they violated the "sanctity" of the mosque.

After getting information from Saudi authorities, Islam stated, the administration would consider next steps, such as the repatriation of the bodies.

She continued that the administration was committed to safeguarding the welfare and interests of Bangladeshis abroad.

For context, the two executed Bangladeshis were included in a list of prisoners that Saudi Arabia had shared with Bangladesh, upon a request from the Bangladesh Consulate General in Jeddah – but that list did not indicate that the pair had been sentenced to death, the Daily Star documented.

This is not the first time that foreign nationals have been executed by Saudi authorities.

Earlier this month, Saudi Arabia overturned a death sentence handed to a Sri Lankan man over a comment he had created on Facebook. It had led to him being convicted of blasphemy. That decision came after the case sparked public outcry in Sri Lanka and spurred diplomatic efforts to seek clemency for the man.

Taken together, the developments around bangladesh says it was not informed of its citizens' execution by Saudi point to a situation that is still moving, and the coming days should bring more clarity.