Around 7,500 Bangladeshis are currently being held in prisons across Saudi Arabia, State Minister for Foreign Affairs Shama Obaed Islam announced today.
The announcement was made after the state minister received the body of Mohammad Shahed Ahmed, a Bangladeshi national who was killed in a missile strike in Saudi Arabia, at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport in Dhaka.
Addressing journalists at the airport, Shama Obaed noted that the government is actively collaborating with Saudi authorities to extend visas and iqamas for expatriates who are unable to return to their workplaces due to ongoing regional conflict.
The state minister also highlighted that ongoing discussions are focused on securing the rehabilitation and re-employment of Bangladeshi nationals who have lost their jobs abroad.
Addressing inquiries regarding the recent execution of two Bangladeshi citizens in Saudi Arabia and the broader issue of detainees, Shama Obaed stated that the administration had not yet received comprehensive details concerning the executed nationals.
She confirmed that the government has formally requested copies of the court verdicts from Saudi authorities to officially establish the facts surrounding the cases.
Emphasizing the limits of state intervention, she remarked that every nation maintains its own judicial system and Bangladesh cannot interfere in foreign judicial proceedings, while affirming the government's duty to assist its citizens.
She concluded by noting that diplomatic efforts are ongoing to gather thorough information on all detained citizens and to deliver necessary assistance.
Why it matters
The disclosure highlights the urgent consular challenges facing thousands of Bangladeshi migrant workers detained or displaced in Saudi Arabia amid ongoing regional conflict.