Saudi Arabia executes two Bangladeshi nationals without advance notice to Dhaka

Saudi Arabia executed two Bangladeshi nationals, Nazrul Islam Abdul Basir and Sweety Akhtar, in Mecca on October 14, 2026, for alleged "indecent acts" committed inside a mosque. Neither Bangladesh nor the executed individuals' families received advance notification of the executions, prompting the Bangladesh government to formally seek clarification and full legal documentation from Saudi authorities.

According to a confidential memo from the Bangladesh Consulate General in Jeddah, both individuals had been held in detention since August 2023 under separate initial allegations. Nazrul was detained at Jeddah Correctional Facility on charges related to Saudi Arabia's cybercrime law beginning August 1, 2023, while Sweety was detained at Jeddah Women's Prison on allegations of adultery from August 2, 2023. Both worked as cleaners for Al Majal Company. In September 2026, when the consulate requested a list of Bangladeshi prisoners held in the kingdom, Saudi authorities provided a list of approximately 2,500 detainees that included both names, but contained no indication they had been sentenced to death or faced execution.

Bangladesh's Foreign Minister Humaiun Kobir stated he was "very disappointed" by the lack of communication and called for an explanation regarding the executions and the gap in information sharing between the two countries. State Minister-2 for Foreign Affairs Shama Obaed Islam confirmed that Saudi Arabia did not notify Dhaka before executing the two Bangladeshis. The Bangladeshi government formally requested copies of the verdicts and full details of the legal proceedings through a note verbale. Officials noted that the consulate receives periodic prisoner lists but lacks resources to actively monitor every case among hundreds of detainees, and that the two executed individuals had made no requests for consular assistance. The consulate indicated this was an unprecedented case, as no previous Bangladeshi national had been sentenced to death in Saudi Arabia for cybercrime or adultery offences.

Saudi Arabia's interior ministry announced the executions but did not disclose the specific nature of the alleged "indecent act," the manner of execution, or whether the two individuals received legal representation or interpreter assistance during trial. The Saudi Press Agency identified the individuals as "Nadhir Al Islam Abdul Basir and Siti Akhtar." Bangladesh's Foreign Ministry stated that Saudi Arabia had not officially or unofficially informed either the embassy or consulate about the death sentences or their implementation prior to the executions. The consulate memo noted that while interpreting assistance is available in Saudi courts, defendants cannot choose their own interpreters, and the document does not confirm whether either executed individual received such assistance. At least 175 people have been executed in Saudi Arabia in 2026, the majority of whom are foreign nationals, according to available reports.