20 Bangladeshis face uncertainty over sentences in Saudi prisons

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The fate of 20 Bangladeshi nationals convicted of crimes in Saudi Arabia remains uncertain because their sentences have not been specified in a list provided by Saudi authorities.

The list includes 22 Bangladeshis marked as “convicted”, including Nazrul Islam and Sweety Akhtar, whose executions recently sparked public concern in Bangladesh. However, the punishment and sentence details for the remaining 20 individuals are missing.

The Bangladesh Consulate in Jeddah has written to the Saudi Ministry of Foreign Affairs seeking the missing verdict summaries to determine what legal and consular assistance can be provided.

The Saudi ministry sent a list of 2,461 Bangladeshi prisoners on September 30. While some have been convicted and others are awaiting trial, the consulate found that the verdict-summary column was blank for 22 individuals.

According to information available to the consulate, eight of the 22 were prosecuted for murder, five for drug trafficking, five in personal-rights cases, two for violations of state law, one for cybercrime and one for adultery.

Six are held at Dhahban Prison, six at Shumaisi, four at Jeddah General Prison, and the remaining six in women’s prisons in Najran, Khamis, Al-Baha, Hada and Jeddah.

The nature of the charges does not establish the punishment. Under Saudi law, a murder case may lead to a death sentence, blood-money settlement or imprisonment. Without the verdict details, the consulate cannot determine whether any of the 20 individuals face execution or what legal options may be available.

The consulate said the missing information was needed to update its records and provide appropriate assistance, including exploring appeals, legal representation, pardon or blood-money arrangements where applicable.

In a separate letter dated October 19, the consulate also asked Saudi authorities to facilitate the release and repatriation of prisoners who have completed their sentences, consider eligible prisoners for royal pardons, waive remaining sentences for certain first-time or minor offenders, and expedite pending cases.

The consulate has also sought information about two other Bangladeshis reportedly arrested by Saudi security forces, whose families do not know the reasons for or circumstances of their arrests.

Saudi authorities have yet to respond to the consulate’s requests.