Saudi Interior Ministry released a brief statement on Wednesday, confirming that two Bangladeshi men were executed in the Mecca region. The men, identified as Nazerul Islam Abdul Basir and Siti Akhtar, were arrested after an investigation that led to charges under taʾzir, a discretionary punishment in Islamic law, and were sentenced to death following a court ruling.
Saudi officials cited the "gravity of the offence" and the violation of the sanctity of the time and place as justification, yet they withheld the exact nature of the alleged act and the mosque involved, leaving the case shrouded in silence.
The Bangladesh Consulate General in Jeddah, which said it received no prior notice, has sent a formal note verbale to the Saudi Ministry of Foreign Affairs requesting acknowledgment of the executions. The consulate has also asked for an official statement confirming the dates and circumstances.
Saudi Arabia has yet to respond to the diplomatic note; the consulate is awaiting a formal reply, which could influence future diplomatic engagement between the two countries and affect consular access for Bangladeshi nationals in the Kingdom.
The next court hearing or diplomatic meeting is expected in the coming weeks, as both sides weigh the implications of this execution on bilateral ties and regional security.