19 Bangladeshis executed in KSA since 2010: ESOHR

At least 19 Bangladeshi nationals have been documented as executed in Saudi Arabia across three reporting periods since 2010, including two cases reported in October this year, according to human rights monitoring.

The figures comprise 16 executions between 2010 and 2021, one in 2024 and two in October 2026. However, they do not represent a complete count of Bangladeshis executed in the kingdom, as a consolidated figure covering every year is not available.

A joint report by Reprieve and the European Saudi Organisation for Human Rights (ESOHR), published in January 2023, documented 1,243 executions in Saudi Arabia between 2010 and 2021, including 16 Bangladeshi nationals.

The report highlighted the particular risks faced by foreign nationals, including migrant workers who may struggle to secure legal representation, understand court proceedings conducted in Arabic or obtain consular assistance.

Foreign nationals accounted for 490 of the executions documented during the 12-year period, or around 39 per cent of the total. Those executed included nationals of Pakistan, Yemen, Syria, Egypt and Bangladesh.

One of the most widely reported cases involving Bangladeshis occurred in October 2011, when Saudi Arabia executed eight Bangladeshi nationals convicted of involvement in the killing of an Egyptian security guard during a robbery.

The executions took place in Riyadh and drew criticism from Amnesty International over concerns about the fairness of the criminal proceedings.

The eight men were Ma'mun Abdul Mannan, Faruq Jamal, Sumon Miah, Mohammed Sumon, Shafiq al-Islam, Mas'ud Shamsul Haque, Abu al-Hussain Ahmed and Mutir al-Rahman.