Staff Reporter :
State Minister for Foreign Affairs Shama Obaed Islam yesterday received the body of Bangladeshi worker Md Shahed Ahmed here, who was killed in the October 10 attack at King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
A flight carrying his body arrived at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport yesterday.
Speaking to journalists after receiving the deceased expatriate, Shama said the body had been brought home swiftly through coordinated efforts by several ministries, including the Ministry of Expatriates’ Welfare and Overseas Employment.
“He was from Shahjahanpur in Bogura and had two children. We have brought back 10 deceased expatriates so far (after the Middle East conflict broke out). He is the 11th,” she said.
Expressing sympathy for the bereaved family, the state minister said a Taka 50,000 grant from the expatriates’ welfare ministry had been provided and a free ambulance arranged to transport the body to his village.
She said more than four million Bangladeshis live in Saudi Arabia.
“That is why we remain deeply concerned whenever anything happens,” she added.
Responding to questions about two Bangladeshis recently executed in Saudi Arabia, Shama said the government had sent an official letter to the Saudi authorities regarding the two individuals.
“Every country has its own judicial system. Many procedures must be followed to bring detainees home. The incident involving them took place in 2023,” she said.
The state minister said around 7,500 Bangladeshis were imprisoned in different countries.
“Whenever the ministry learns that one of our citizens has been sentenced, we immediately try to find ways to save them,” she said.
Shama urged Bangladeshis seeking employment abroad to familiarise themselves with the laws and regulations of their destination countries.
“We are trying to resolve these problems, and our missions are actively working on them,” she said.
On overseas recruitment costs, she said brokers were driving up expenses for migrant workers and the prime minister had instructed her to look into the matter.
