According to an official concerned, the Saudi government has recently asked the Bangladesh mission in Jeddah to make arrangement for deporting the Rohingyas, who have been arrested on charges of criminal activities.

The Saudi government however could not show any document, which can prove that they are Bangladeshi citizens, a foreign ministry official told The Daily Star.

Following such requests from Saudi Arabia, an inter-ministerial meeting was held recently at the home ministry. Officials of the foreign and food and disaster management ministries, and members of the intelligence agencies were present.

The meeting observed that Bangladesh cannot accept any migrant from a third country unless they have valid documents, which can prove that they are Bangladeshi nationals.

When asked whether the Rohingyas have Bangladeshi passports, the foreign ministry official said there are no such records.

He said "It will be unfortunate if the Saudi government creates pressures on us to accept them."

"We have around 16 lakh nationals working in Saudi Arabia and we don't want the Saudi government to have any negative feeling about us and our workers," added the official requesting not to be named.

According to manpower businesses and other agencies that deal with Rohingya refugees in Bangladesh, the Saudi government had earlier shown mercy to Rohingyas.

They said many Rohingyas went to the Saudi Arabia either with work visa or for performing Umrah after managing Bangladeshi passports.

"Upon their arrival, they destroy the passports and seek shelters and jobs to the Saudi authorities saying they were persecuted in Myanmar," said a manpower agent.

Considering their persecution and religion, the Saudi authorities used to give them work permits, which actually encouraged many Rohingyas to go to Saudi Arabia following this way, he added.

But now the Saudi government is trying to deport Rohingyas as many of them were found involved with criminal activities, said the manpower agent.

"Such incidents are tarnishing the image of Bangladeshi workers in Saudi Arabia," he said adding, "This should be stopped."