Foreign ministry says neither it nor Bangladesh mission was informed before sentences were carried outDiplomatic Correspondent: Bangladesh has formally sought a detailed explanation from Saudi Arabia over the execution of two Bangladeshi nationals, saying neither the Ministry of Foreign Affairs nor the Bangladesh diplomatic mission in the kingdom was informed before the sentences were carried out.State Minister for Foreign Affairs Shama Obaed Islam disclosed the development at a media briefing at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, saying the government had sent a formal letter to the Saudi authorities seeking information about the executions and the circumstances surrounding them.“Neither our foreign ministry nor our mission in Saudi Arabia was informed about the matter beforehand,” she said.According to Shama, Bangladesh learned on October 14 that two Bangladeshi expatriate workers had been sentenced to death under Saudi law and that the sentences had already been carried out.The government is seeking clarification on the offences for which the two men were convicted, the judicial proceedings, the circumstances leading to their executions and why the Bangladesh mission was not notified in advance.“We have not yet received detailed official information from the Saudi government. We will have to wait for their response,” the state minister said.She said the Bangladesh mission had also informed the Ministry of Expatriates' Welfare and Overseas Employment about the incident, sharing preliminary information obtained through its Labour Welfare Wing.Although the authorities have identified the two Bangladeshis by name, the government is still awaiting official details about their employment, employers, length of stay in Saudi Arabia and the cases that led to their executions.The lack of prior notification has raised questions about the information available to Bangladeshi diplomatic officials and the support they may have been able to provide during the legal proceedings.Shama described the executions as deeply unfortunate and reiterated the importance of Bangladeshi nationals complying with the laws of their host countries. She noted that every country has its own legal framework and that its laws apply within its jurisdiction.However, she stressed that the government remained concerned about the safety, welfare and protection of Bangladeshis living and working overseas.The issue is particularly significant for Bangladesh because Saudi Arabia hosts more than four million Bangladeshi expatriates, making it one of the country's largest overseas employment destinations.The state minister also expressed concern over the wider security situation in the Middle East amid the ongoing regional conflict. She said several Bangladeshis had been killed or injured in recent attacks, while some injured nationals remained hospitalised.The government is also working to repatriate the bodies of Bangladeshis killed in those attacks, she added.The latest development comes as Dhaka seeks to maintain close relations with Riyadh while addressing concerns over the protection of its citizens abroad. Saudi Arabia remains a major destination for Bangladeshi migrant workers, whose remittances make an important contribution to the country's economy.Shama said Bangladesh maintained strong bilateral relations with Saudi Arabia, noting that Prime Minister Tarique Rahman had held several meetings with Saudi representatives since the formation of the new government.Preparations were also underway for the prime minister's proposed visit to Saudi Arabia following an invitation from Riyadh, she said.The government is now awaiting a formal response from the Saudi authorities to establish the full circumstances of the two executions. Further details, including the charges against the men and the legal procedures followed in their cases, remain unknown pending official clarification.For Bangladesh, the immediate priority is to obtain verified information about what happened, determine why its diplomatic mission was not informed and assess what the incident means for the protection of millions of its citizens working abroad.