The Bangladesh government is seeking cooperation from Saudi Arabia to extend the validity of visas and iqamas for Bangladeshi migrant workers unable to return to their workplaces because of the ongoing conflict.
State Minister for Foreign Affairs Shama Obaed Islam said the government was discussing the issue with Saudi authorities to help expatriates facing visa expiry and employment difficulties.
She made the remarks on Friday after receiving the body of Mohammad Shahed Ahmed, a Bangladeshi national killed in a missile strike in Saudi Arabia, at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport in Dhaka.
Shama Obaed also said the government was working to rehabilitate Bangladeshi expatriates who had lost their jobs abroad and create opportunities for their re-employment.
According to information available to the Bangladesh government, around 7,500 Bangladeshis are currently being held in prisons across Saudi Arabia.
Regarding the recent execution of two Bangladeshi nationals in Saudi Arabia, the state minister said the government had not yet received detailed information about their cases. Bangladesh has formally requested copies of the court verdicts from Saudi authorities to establish the facts.
She said Bangladesh could not interfere in another country’s judicial proceedings but had a responsibility to obtain information about cases involving its citizens and take appropriate steps to assist them.
The government said it would continue diplomatic efforts to obtain further information and support Bangladeshi nationals facing difficulties abroad.
Reporting by Borderless for The Borderless Journal. Filed under Uncategorized · 23 Oct 2026, 20:25.
