A week after Saudi Arabia executed two Bangladeshi nationals, Nazrul Islam Abdul Bashir and Sweety Akhtar, over alleged immoral acts in Mecca, unverified claims about an Indian man’s alleged involvement in the case have spread across social media platforms.
The executions have raised questions in Bangladesh, as neither the families nor the government were reportedly informed in advance. Dhaka has continued to seek details from Riyadh, while the couple’s remains have yet to be returned.
What Do the Viral Posts Claim?
Posts circulating on Facebook and X allege that Nazrul and Sweety, who reportedly worked as cleaners for Saudi company Al Majal, developed a romantic relationship and engaged in adultery inside a secluded room near gates 85 and 87 of Mecca’s Masjid al-Haram.
The posts further allege that Nazrul asked an Indian acquaintance to stand guard while the pair were together and that the man recorded their encounter. According to the same narrative, the Indian man later circulated the video after allegedly failing to pursue a relationship with Sweety.
The posts claim that Saudi authorities arrested all three individuals, sentenced the Indian man to 20 years in prison and ultimately sentenced Nazrul and Sweety to death.
However, these allegations remain unverified. No publicly available official record cited in the reports substantiates the claims about the Indian man, including the alleged prison sentence. The detailed account of the incident has also not been independently corroborated.
Limited Official Information Fuels Speculation
According to a confidential memo from the Bangladesh Consulate General in Jeddah, obtained by The Daily Star, Nazrul was detained on August 1, 2023, under Saudi Arabia’s cybercrime law, while Sweety was detained the following day over allegations of adultery.
A prisoner list reportedly received by the consulate on September 30 contained details of their detention. Saudi authorities have confirmed that the pair were convicted by a court but have not publicly disclosed comprehensive details of the alleged offences or the evidence presented against them.
The families have disputed the allegations. Nazrul’s relatives reportedly alleged that he was the victim of a conspiracy involving a Pakistani co-worker, while Sweety’s family said her arrest followed an incident involving female co-workers who had allegedly purchased a car illegally. Neither account has been independently verified.
Earlier social media claims suggested that the pair were married and that their alleged offence involved kissing during Umrah. Both families reportedly rejected these claims, saying Nazrul and Sweety did not know each other.
Viral Narrative Spreads Across Countries
The more elaborate allegations reportedly began circulating on October 20 through a Pakistan-based account on X before being reproduced by accounts in Bangladesh, Pakistan and several African countries.
Among those reported to have shared the narrative was Farhan Kiyani, identified as the president of the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz’s youth wing in Riyadh.
A news portal, Hajj Reporters, also published an account under the headline “The Inside Story: Why Two Bangladeshi Were Given Death Sentences.” The article repeated claims about an Indian man’s alleged involvement but, according to the supplied report, did not provide independent evidence to substantiate them.
The repeated circulation of identical claims across multiple accounts does not establish their accuracy. The lack of detailed official information has created an information vacuum in which speculation has flourished.
Questions Remain Over the Executions
The case has raised serious questions about the circumstances surrounding the executions and the communication between Saudi and Bangladeshi authorities.
Why were the families and the Bangladeshi government reportedly not informed before the executions? Why has Riyadh not provided the full details requested by Dhaka? And what steps were taken to seek clarification during the couple’s detention?
These questions remain central to understanding the case.
Saudi Arabia continues to impose the death penalty for a range of offences. However, the circumstances surrounding Nazrul and Sweety’s executions, including the lack of publicly available details, warrant scrutiny.
For now, the allegations against the Indian man remain unsubstantiated. Establishing what happened will require verifiable evidence and official clarification, rather than the repetition of unconfirmed claims on social media.