Bangladesh family demands justice after son’s execution in Saudi Arabia

The family of a Bangladeshi migrant worker executed in Saudi Arabia has demanded justice and the return of his body, alleging that he was put to death without a fair trial or advance notification.

Nazrul Islam was executed in Mecca on October 14 alongside Sweety/Siti Akter following allegations of adultery at a mosque, according to reports from Bangladesh.

Nazrul traveled to Saudi Arabia on November 10, 2022, hoping to support his impoverished family. He worked as a cleaner for approximately six months before Saudi authorities arrested him and Sweety over allegations of an indecent act at a mosque.

He subsequently spent more than three years in prison.

His father, Abdul Basir, said the family learned of the execution through media reports. Nazrul’s mother, Rahima Begum, said her son regularly called home from prison every Sunday, but the family received no warning that he would be executed.

“The creditors are now pressuring me to repay the debt. I want my son’s body brought back home. If he was executed without just cause, I want justice,” Basir told The Daily Star.

Basir borrowed Tk 700,000 (approximately $5,660) to send his son abroad, hoping his earnings would help lift the family out of poverty. He said Nazrul managed to send home only Tk 150,000 (approximately $1,210) before his arrest.

The father also rejected social media claims that Nazrul and Sweety were married, saying the family did not know the woman.

The circumstances of the trial remain unclear. It has not been independently established whether Nazrul received legal assistance or had an opportunity to defend himself before his execution.

The family also reported that Nazrul’s aunt, Abeda Begum, died of a heart attack after learning of his death.

Meanwhile, the Bangladesh government has sought an explanation from Saudi Arabia over its failure to notify Dhaka before the executions.

State minister for foreign affairs Humaiun Kobir said Bangladesh had not officially verified the identities of the two people executed, despite reports identifying them as Bangladeshi nationals.

Saudi authorities reportedly provided limited information about the individuals and their alleged offenses, complicating efforts to establish their identities.

Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami leader Shafiqur Rahman also questioned the government’s handling of the case and the role of its diplomatic mission in Saudi Arabia.

“The government and the Bangladesh embassy are bound to make their positions clear on this matter,” he said.

Nazrul’s family has urged the government to investigate the execution and arrange for his remains to be repatriated at state expense.