Bangladeshi expat shot dead in Saudi Arabia for 'failing to make prayer call'

A Bangladeshi expatriate worker has been shot dead by a muezzin in Saudi Arabia for allegedly failing to make prayer call on his behalf.

The incident took place on Sunday at Ortawwiyah in Majmaah district, some 30km from Riyadh, Arab News reported on Thursday.

The Bangladeshi has been identified as Mohammed Rafiqul Islam, 36.

Islam hails from Brahmanbarhia's Ashuganj Upazila.

He used to work at a date firm and also as a part-time car driver, his brother Kamal Uddin told bdnews24.com.

Arab News quoted Bangladesh Embassy's Labour Councillor Mohamed Sarwar Alam as saying that Islam used to call for prayers at a mosque in Ortawwiyah at times.

Locals said he used to make prayer calls for the muezzin but had failed to do so on Sunday and it infuriated the muezzin.

Labour Councillor Alam said they had informed Islam's family of the murder and added the embassy was sorting out paperwork of the victim.

Another expatriate Indian worker was also wounded in the firing.

He is undergoing treatment at a local hospital. Police did not disclose his identity but said he was out of danger.

Police have arrested the accused muezzin who, they claim, is a psychiatric patient.

Islam's brother Kamal Uddin said the foreign ministry had sought some documents from them.

He said initiatives would be taken to bring back his brother's body once they get an identification paper from local chairman.