Staff Correspondent

The recent execution of two Bangladeshi nationals in Mecca, Saudi Arabia, has sparked intense debate and controversy over legal due process, diplomatic protocols, and potential violations of international law.

Questions have emerged regarding whether procedural standards were met prior to the execution and whether consular rights under the Vienna Convention were honored, as officials in Dhaka confirm that the Bangladesh Embassy in Jeddah was not notified beforehand.

According to family sources, Nazarul Islam, a youth from Birampur village in Sultanpur Union under Brahmanbaria Sadar Upazila, traveled to Saudi Arabia in 2022. Within six months of arrival, in 2023, Nazarul and a woman named Sweety Akhtar were arrested in Mecca over allegations of immoral activity at a mosque. Following over three years of detention, Saudi authorities recently confirmed that the death sentences of both individuals had been carried out.

State Minister for Foreign Affairs Shama Obayed Islam stated that the Bangladesh government has not yet received complete official information or the judgment copy from Saudi Arabia.

"We have requested a certified copy of the verdict from the Saudi government," Shama Obayed said. "Once we receive and review the legal documents, we will hold discussions with Saudi authorities to determine our next steps." 

Concurrently, State Minister for Foreign Affairs Humayun Kabir affirmed that Bangladesh has formally sought an explanation from Saudi Arabia regarding procedural and communication gaps.

"If the crime occurred as reported, local laws apply, and everyone traveling to Saudi Arabia is subject to its jurisdiction," Humayun Kabir remarked. "However, regarding the lack of communication and procedural information sharing, our stance is clear—we have asked Saudi Arabia to clarify why these gaps occurred."

The execution has drawn sharp scrutiny from international law experts and migration analysts. Experts noted that under the Vienna Convention on Consular Relations, host nations are expected to grant detained foreign nationals access to consular services. Failing to inform the relevant embassy or verify citizenship during trial proceedings could constitute a breach of diplomatic conventions.

However, former ambassador Humayun Kabir observed that because the judicial proceedings were conducted strictly under domestic Saudi criminal law, whether the host country had a mandatory obligation to formally notify Bangladesh during internal trial stages remains subject to legal interpretation. 

In Brahmanbaria, news of Nazarul's execution has plunged his family into deep mourning. His mother, Rahima Begum, shared that Nazarul had called home every Sunday from prison, but after his call failed to arrive last week, the family learned of his execution through news reports.

Tragically, Nazarul's paternal aunt, Abeda Begum, suffered a fatal heart attack the night after hearing news of his execution.

"I do not know what crime my son committed; only Allah knows," lamented his ailing father, Abdul Bashir. "Why were we not informed even once before this happened?"

Nazarul's family and local community members have urged the Bangladeshi government to coordinate with Saudi authorities to ensure his remains are returned home for burial.