Executions of Two Bangladeshis in Saudi Arabia: Rights Forum Demands Impartial Review of Trial and Consular Services

The Human Rights Forum Bangladesh (HRFB) has demanded an impartial review of the trial process, legal aid and consular services in the case of two Bangladeshis executed in Saudi Arabia. If negligence in duty is proven, those responsible should be held accountable and the two Bangladeshis' families should receive fair compensation, the organisation also urged.

On 14 October, two Bangladeshis named Nazrul Islam Abdul Bashir and Siti Akhtar, also known as Sweety Akhtar, were executed in the Makkah region. Saudi authorities gave no advance information about it to the Bangladesh embassy or consulate, according to the relevant diplomatic letter.

A statement by the Saudi interior ministry published through the Saudi Press Agency said the two Bangladeshis were executed after being convicted of immoral acts inside a mosque. Their sentences were handed down under the 'taazir' provision of Saudi law, the statement noted.

According to published information, a letter sent last Sunday by the labour wing of Bangladesh's consulate in Jeddah to the Ministry of Expatriates' Welfare and Overseas Employment said the two citizens had been detained since August 2023 on separate charges. A prisoner list received on 30 September contained no information about their sentences, although sentence details were mentioned for other prisoners.

HRFB has asked whether the consulate inquired about their cases after receiving the prisoner list and whether it investigated why the sentence information was missing. Although reports say the families did not contact the consulate seeking legal aid, the organisation believes that does not end the consulate's own responsibility.

The organisation also asked whether, before the executions, the two Bangladeshis could appoint lawyers of their choice, consult lawyers in confidence and receive interpreter support to understand the court proceedings. It also asked for verification of whether there was an effective opportunity to appeal and seek clemency.

Bangladesh is a party to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR). Article 6 of the covenant protects the right to life and Article 14 speaks of fair trial and legal aid rights. In addition, Article 36 of the 1963 Vienna Convention on Consular Relations provides for consular communication and assistance for citizens detained abroad.

According to published reports, the Bangladesh consulate has sent a 'note verbale' to the Makkah branch of the Saudi foreign ministry seeking a copy of the verdict and details of the case. HRFB believes the Bangladesh government should formally raise the matter at the diplomatic level and collect the necessary documents.

According to a joint report by the European Saudi Organisation for Human Rights, 1,243 people were executed in Saudi Arabia from 2010 to 2021, among them 16 Bangladeshis. Of those executed in that period, 490 were foreign nationals.

A widely discussed case of Bangladeshis being executed took place in October 2011, when Saudi authorities executed eight Bangladeshis convicted of killing an Egyptian security guard during a robbery. Amnesty International expressed concern at the time about the fairness of the trial process.

According to the European Saudi organisation, 345 people were executed in Saudi Arabia in 2024, among them 138 foreign nationals and one Bangladeshi. According to Human Rights Watch, a record 356 people were executed in the country in 2025. Available figures indicate at least 19 Bangladeshis have been executed in total, although without complete year-by-year accounts it is not certain whether the real number is higher.

Around 3.5 million Bangladeshis work in Saudi Arabia and the remittances they send make an important contribution to the country's economy. An effective role by diplomatic missions in protecting the rights of Bangladeshis detained and on trial abroad is therefore extremely important. After the forum's demand, attention will now turn to the next steps by the government and the consulate.