Writ filed over execution of two Bangladeshis in Saudi Arabia

A public interest writ petition was filed with the High Court on Wednesday (October 28) seeking directions on government authorities to disclose their diplomatic and legal measures regarding the execution of two Bangladeshi nationals in Saudi Arabia.

Advocate Tasmiah Nuhiya Ahmed, a lawyer of the Supreme Court and partner at FM Associates, filed the petition challenging the alleged inaction and failure of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and relevant authorities to provide timely consular assistance to overseas Bangladeshi detainees.

The writ petition seeks directions to compel the government to publish full details and preserve official records concerning the detention, trial, conviction, and subsequent execution by beheading of the two citizens in Saudi Arabia on October 14.

Key respondents named in the writ include the Foreign Secretary, Secretary of the Ministry of Expatriates' Welfare and Overseas Employment, Director General of the Wage Earners' Welfare Board, the Ambassador of Bangladesh to Saudi Arabia, the Consul General in Jeddah, and the Head of the Labour Welfare Wing in Jeddah.

The petitioner urged the High Court to issue a rule declaring the authorities' failure to render timely consular support as unconstitutional under Articles 27, 31, and 32 of the Constitution, while also seeking an order directing the Foreign and Expatriates' Welfare Ministries to issue necessary directives to all Bangladeshi foreign missions within 72 hours.

Earlier, Advocate Tasmiah served a legal notice via registered post to the relevant authorities on Sunday. She proceeded with the High Court petition after receiving no response within the stipulated timeframe.

The writ specifically asks the government to clarify when and through which channels it became aware of the arrests, trials, and executions, while requesting written details of diplomatic efforts undertaken both prior to and following the executions, along with a clear plan to retrieve missing legal documentation.

The petition also seeks directives to establish a comprehensive framework for identifying, tracking, and providing legal aid to other Bangladeshi citizens facing trial or death sentences abroad, ensuring consular representation and administrative accountability.

Advocate Tasmiah clarified that the petition seeks accountability and transparency regarding the statutory duties of Bangladeshi officials and does not challenge the orders or jurisdiction of any foreign state or court.

According to Saudi official statements, the two executed Bangladeshis, identified as Nazrul Islam Abdul Bashir and Sweety Akhtar, were executed in the Makkah region on October 14 over allegations of engaging in immoral acts at a mosque, though specific details of the charges were omitted.

Reports indicate that Saudi authorities executed the duo without prior official notification to the Bangladeshi Embassy or Consulate in Saudi Arabia, prompting the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Bangladesh Consulate in Jeddah to subsequently dispatch diplomatic notes requesting certified copies of the judgment and trial records.

-EM