Family seeks return of man executed in Saudi Arabia

Holding a photo of her smiling son and a copy of his passport, Rahima Begum struggles to come to terms with the news of his execution in Saudi Arabia. Nazrul Islam, 25, had gone there hoping to improve his family’s financial condition. Now, his family is pleading for his body to be brought home.

Nazrul was the son of Abdul Bashir of Birampur village in Brahmanbaria Sadar upazila. He was the eldest of four siblings and the sole breadwinner of his family.

Family members said Nazrul went to Makkah on November 10, 2022, to work as a cleaner. About six months later, he was arrested over allegations of engaging in illicit activities with a young woman named Sweety Akter at a mosque. After spending three years and three months in prison, his execution was reportedly carried out on October 14, according to media reports.

His aunt Abeda Begum died of a heart attack after hearing the news, the family said.

Rahima said her son had told her he was in jail but denied committing the alleged act.

“My son could not have committed any crime. They sentenced him without informing us. I want nothing else. I just want to see my son’s body one last time,” she said in tears.

Nazrul’s friend Mahfuz said Nazrul could not speak Arabic fluently because he had recently arrived in Saudi Arabia. He claimed that Nazrul was not involved in the incident and alleged that a Pakistani national had committed the act, but Nazrul was implicated because of the language barrier.

Mahfuz also questioned whether Nazrul had been given an adequate opportunity to defend himself, calling for an impartial investigation.

Nazrul’s grandmother, Nurunnahar, said the family had been left destitute and appealed to the government to bring his body back to Bangladesh at state expense.

Brahmanbaria Deputy Commissioner Md Abu Sayeed said the authorities would provide necessary assistance under the rules if the family submitted an application.

-AJM