The secret execution of two Bangladeshi citizens on Saudi soil and the spineless, incompetent role played by the country’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs have given birth to an unprecedentedly shameful chapter. Even after the explicit violation of the Vienna Convention and the trampling of fundamental international diplomatic decorum, remaining subservient before the Saudi Ambassador in Dhaka—and having the audacity to lecture that our own citizens should 'learn a lesson'—exposes the absolute moral bankruptcy of this administration.

Abysmal Failure and Dependency Behind the Facade of Diplomacy

On October 14, news of the execution of two Bangladeshis—Nazrul Islam and Siti Akhtar—in Mecca came to light through the Saudi Press Agency. Yet, just a day earlier on October 13, State Minister for Foreign Affairs Shama Obayd Islam was seen engaging in a smiling meeting with the Saudi Ambassador to Bangladesh, Dr. Abdullah bin Zafar Al-Hapia. In a cruel twist of irony, even three days after the execution, the Bangladesh Consulate in Jeddah could not even confirm the identity or nationality of these two citizens.

In contrast, countries like Indonesia, Sri Lanka, and the Philippines have historically spent millions of dollars from state coffers to negotiate and protect their citizens.

Even under the previous Awami League government, it was possible to bring back six Bangladeshis who were sentenced to death in the United Arab Emirates through extensive diplomatic efforts. In comparison, the current government's subservient and spineless diplomacy has not only put the lives of expatriates at risk, but has also compromised the nation's sovereignty on the international stage.

Insult to Sovereignty and State Apathy

Although an execution in Saudi Arabia requires passing through lengthy judicial stages—police investigation, hearings in multiple courts, an appellate bench, and royal approval from the King—the Bangladeshi diplomatic mission claims to have been kept entirely in the dark. In the words of former Ambassador Golam Moshi: "There is no scope for the Saudi government not to inform. Whoever claimed they were not informed has spoken completely irresponsibly." The Saudi Ambassador's continuous arrogance and conduct breaching diplomatic etiquette have been repeatedly visible on home soil. Despite prior confirmation, the Saudi Ambassador was absent from an important international seminar in Dhaka on October 10. Furthermore, this Ministry of Foreign Affairs did not even dare utter a word regarding the arbitrariness of visa processing and third-party agencies in recent times. Blinded by remittance earnings, this incompetent administration has sacrificed the blood and rights of its citizens through a suicidal policy that delivers a severe blow to the dignity of an independent nation.

"Under Article 36 of the Vienna Protocol, informing the embassy immediately upon the detention or arrest of a foreign citizen is a fundamental human right. Yet, despite this blatant violation, failing to summon the ambassador sternly—instead settling for a meeting to hand over a 'Note Verbale' and shifting the blame onto the country's own expatriates—is a crime of the highest order."

Time for Ultimate Accountability is Now

While countries like Indonesia, Nepal, Ethiopia, and the Philippines suspended sending workers to Saudi Arabia in protest against the abuse and injustice faced by their laborers, this government—hypocritically chanting the slogan "Bangladesh First"—has turned the lives of expatriates into mere commodities. If this deplorable state of subservient foreign policy continues, national interests will be ruined forever. The time has come to ensure the accountability of this failed and spineless administration, which fails to recognize the value of basic human rights and the sacrifice of our overseas workers.

Author: Dr. Abul Hasnat Milton, Journalist, Political Analyst, and Chief Editor, The Source News Bangla