Bodies of Two Bangladeshis Sentenced to Death in Saudi Arabia to Be Repatriated When Situation Normalises

The bodies of two Bangladeshis sentenced to death in Makkah, Saudi Arabia, will be brought back to Bangladesh once air connectivity resumes and the situation returns to normal, Expatriates’ Welfare and Overseas Employment Minister Ariful Haque Chowdhury has said.

He made the remarks at a press conference on Monday (October 19) after a ceremony to hand over 200 luggage trolleys for expatriate workers at the airport.

The minister said one of the two Bangladeshis sentenced to death in Makkah was a migrant worker, while the other was an Umrah pilgrim. One was from Bogura and the other from Cumilla.

The minister also said Umrah pilgrims stranded in Saudi Arabia would be brought back once the situation returns to normal.

Many pilgrims have been stranded in the country due to the current situation in Saudi Arabia, he said. Some have tried to return via alternative routes, but flight cancellations have prevented many from coming home.

Regarding the new agreement with Japan on worker recruitment, the minister said Bangladeshi workers would receive the same legal protection as local workers in Japan under the agreement. He added that the agreement also emphasised ensuring equal opportunities for men and women in the workplace.

Speaking at the trolley handover ceremony, the minister said the initiative would reduce passengers’ inconvenience at the airport.