Dhaka seeks details from Saudi envoy 

Bangladesh sought further information from Saudi Arabia regarding the recent execution of two Bangladeshi nationals, raising the issue with Saudi Ambassador to Bangladesh Dr Abdullah Zafer bin Abiyah on Sunday.

Secretary (East and West) Dr Md Nazrul Islam sought detailed information about the executions during a meeting with the Saudi ambassador, official said. He said the ambassador had not been summoned.

Although Dhaka raised the issue with the Saudi envoy, it expressed confidence that the incident would not affect the strong bilateral relations between the two countries.

The importance of remaining "mindful" of the laws of the host country was also discussed. Saudi authorities identified the two Bangladeshis as Nazrul Islam Abdul Basir and Siti Akhtar.

Both sides expressed satisfaction with the steady progress of cooperation between Bangladesh and Saudi Arabia across various sectors.

On Saturday, State Minister for Foreign Affairs Shama Obaed Islam said the government had yet to receive detailed official information from Saudi authorities regarding the execution of a Bangladeshi man and a woman. She added that the news had come as a surprise.

"We have yet to receive any official detailed information from the Saudi government," she told reporters at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, noting that Bangladesh had sent a letter to the Saudi government requesting further details.

Earlier, Saudi media reported that Saudi Arabia had executed the two Bangladeshis after they were convicted of committing "indecent acts" inside a mosque in the holy city of Mecca.

Quoting the Saudi Interior Ministry, Gulf News reported that the court imposed the sentences because of the seriousness of the offence, the violation of the mosque's sanctity and the circumstances in which the acts were committed.