Grief has engulfed Birampaur village in Brahmanbaria Sadar upazila following news of the execution of Nazrul Islam, a young Bangladeshi migrant worker, in Saudi Arabia. The devastating news triggered a fatal cardiac arrest in his 65-year-old paternal aunt, Abeda Begum, compounding the immense sorrow of a family already struggling to comprehend the loss of their primary breadwinner.
Nazrul, the eldest of four children born to Abdul Bashir and Rehena Begum, embarked on his journey to the Middle East in 2022. Driven by a desire to lift his family out of poverty, his father secured loans amounting to seven lakh taka (700,000 BDT) to finance his deployment. Upon arrival in Saudi Arabia, Nazrul secured employment as a cleaner at the Masjid al-Haram in Mecca.
Communication between Nazrul and his family faltered roughly seven to eight months after his arrival. Eventually, he managed to place a call from a detention facility, informing them of his arrest without detailing the specific charges levied against him. Following a period of imprisonment spanning over three years, his family learned through media reports on 14 October that his death sentence had been carried out.
The news proved fatal for Abeda Begum, who collapsed shortly after hearing of her nephew’s fate. Her death has left the family doubly devastated, grappling simultaneously with bereavement and severe financial distress. Abdul Bashir expressed the depth of his family’s ruin, questioning how he will clear the substantial debt incurred to send his son abroad.
Serious concerns have emerged regarding the diplomatic and legal support provided to Nazrul during his imprisonment. According to his father, Nazrul had previously mentioned that no representative from the Bangladesh Consulate in Saudi Arabia had visited or contacted him during his incarceration. The family is now seeking clarity on whether Nazrul received adequate legal representation or consular access prior to his execution.
Neighbors and relatives continue to gather at the family residence in Birampur as local community members urge the government to take a more proactive stance regarding the legal protection and welfare of Bangladeshi expatriates abroad. Brahmanbaria District Commissioner Md. Abu Sayeed stated that no official directives have been received yet regarding the repatriation of Nazrul’s mortal remains, though assurances were offered that the local administration would assist the family once the body arrives. The bereaved family continues to appeal to state authorities for the swift return of Nazrul’s body and a transparent account of the circumstances surrounding his legal proceedings.
