State Minister for Foreign Affairs Humaiun Kobir on Monday described the execution of two Bangladeshi nationals in Saudi Arabia as “very disappointing”, saying Dhaka has sought an explanation from Riyadh over a possible lapse in information sharing and communication between the two countries.

“We have sought an explanation from our friendly bilateral partner to look into the matter and know why the gap in information sharing and exchanges happened here. We are in discussions,” he told reporters at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Humaiun said Prime Minister Tarique Rahman’s government maintained strong and close relations with Saudi Arabia and expressed hope that bilateral ties would reach a new height. He said there appeared to have been a lapse somewhere in the process.

Bangladesh on Sunday sought detailed information from Saudi Arabia about the executions, raising the issue with Saudi Ambassador to Bangladesh Dr Abdullah Zafer bin Abiyah.

Secretary (East & West) Dr Md Nazrul Islam requested details during a meeting with the ambassador, a senior foreign ministry official told UNB. Another official said the ambassador had not been summoned.

Dhaka expressed confidence that the incident would not affect the strong bilateral relations between the two countries. The importance of complying with the laws of the host country was also discussed, while both sides expressed satisfaction with the steady progress of cooperation across various sectors.

Earlier, State Minister for Foreign Affairs Shama Obaed Islam said the government had not received detailed official information from Saudi authorities about the execution of a Bangladeshi man and a woman.

“We have yet to receive any official detailed information from the Saudi government,” she told reporters on Saturday, adding that Bangladesh had sent a letter requesting details.

Saudi media reported that the two Bangladeshis were executed after being convicted of committing “indecent acts” inside a mosque in Mecca. Quoting the Saudi Interior Ministry, Gulf News reported that the sentences were imposed because of the seriousness of the offence, the violation of the mosque’s sanctity and the circumstances in which the acts were committed.

Saudi authorities identified the two nationals as Nazrul Islam Abdul Basir and Siti Akhtar.

“On October 14, we learned that two Bangladeshi nationals had been sentenced to death under Saudi Arabian law and that the executions had been carried out,” Shama said, noting that neither the Ministry of Foreign Affairs nor the Bangladesh mission in Saudi Arabia had been informed in advance.

“We wanted to know whatever we needed to know. Let the reply come. I will be able to let you know,” she said.

After learning of the executions, the Bangladesh mission informed the Ministry of Expatriates’ Welfare and Overseas Employment and shared the information it had collected from Saudi authorities.

Shama said the government had formally sought details, including the identities of the two individuals, their backgrounds in Bangladesh and when they had arrived in Saudi Arabia for work.

She said Saudi Arabia had its own legal framework and that people convicted of serious offences were punished under its laws.

“The execution of two Bangladeshis in Saudi Arabia serves as a major lesson for us,” she said.

Shama added that the bodies could be repatriated once Bangladesh received a response to its letter. She also said the government was waiting for a copy of the verdict to understand the details of the case.

“Please wait until we receive a copy of the verdict (from the Saudi authorities),” she said.