Approximately 7,500 Bangladeshi nationals are currently imprisoned in various cities across Saudi Arabia, according to State Minister for Foreign Affairs Shama Obaid Islam. She revealed that the government has formally requested a copy of the judgment from Saudi authorities to obtain detailed information regarding the execution of two Bangladeshi citizens, though comprehensive details about the pair remain unavailable.
The State Minister made these remarks while speaking to journalists on Friday morning at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport in Dhaka. She had gone to the airport to receive the body of Md. Shahed Ahmed, a Bangladeshi migrant worker who was killed in an attack at King Khalid International Airport in the Saudi capital, Riyadh.
The mortal remains of Shahed Ahmed arrived in Dhaka shortly after 8:00 AM. Subsequently, the body and financial assistance from the government were handed over to his wife, Kohinoor Akhter Kakoli.
Addressing the media, the State Minister stated that the Bangladeshi government had summoned the Saudi Ambassador to discuss the execution of the two nationals. A formal request has been submitted to the Saudi government for a copy of the court verdict, which will provide clarity on the circumstances surrounding the case once received.
Responding to a journalist's query, the State Minister mentioned that Saudi authorities periodically send lists of individuals serving various sentences and those imprisoned. The government is currently verifying whether the names of the two executed individuals were included in those records.
Emphasizing that every nation has its own legal framework and judicial system, the State Minister stated that it is not Bangladesh's intention to interfere in the judiciary of another country. However, she underscored that it is crucial for Bangladesh to ascertain the details whenever a Bangladeshi citizen is convicted or faces capital punishment abroad.
