Bangladesh is yet to receive a response from Saudi Arabia to questions raised by Dhaka over the execution of two Bangladeshi nationals, Foreign Ministry spokesperson Shahidul Karim said on Wednesday.

The two Bangladeshis were executed on October 14 without prior notification to the Bangladeshi authorities.

Earlier this week, State Minister for Foreign Affairs Shama Obaed Islam said the Bangladesh government had sought an explanation from Saudi Arabia regarding the circumstances surrounding the executions.

She said Dhaka had requested copies of the court verdicts, detailed information about the offences for which the two individuals were sentenced to death, and an explanation as to why the Bangladeshi diplomatic mission had not been informed about the matter.

Saudi Media Cite Alleged Indecent Acts at a Mosque
According to Saudi media reports citing the country’s Interior Ministry, a man and a woman were executed after being convicted of engaging in indecent acts inside a mosque in the holy city of Mecca.

Shama Obaed Islam said the government would determine its next course of action after receiving detailed information and the necessary documents, followed by discussions with the Saudi authorities.

The state minister also urged the public to exercise patience regarding the two expatriates—a man and a woman—who were executed. She advised people not to draw conclusions based on Facebook posts and warned against misinformation and disinformation circulating on social media.

Saudi Arabia Hosts 3.5 Million Bangladeshi Workers
Saudi Arabia is Bangladesh’s largest overseas labour market, with an estimated 3.5 million Bangladeshi workers living in the country. Remittances sent by these expatriates play a significant role in Bangladesh’s economy.

Consequently, the rights and safety of Bangladeshi expatriates in Saudi Arabia remain an important issue in bilateral relations between Dhaka and Riyadh.