Muslim devotees from across the world are coming into Saudi Arabia in large numbers taking advantage of the holy month of Ramadan contributing to huge crowd at the two holiest cities- Makkah and Madinah. The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA) is witnessing a growing number of Umrah pilgrims from countries around the world, including from Bangladesh, since the beginning of Ramadan. Ramadan, the ninth month of the Islamic calendar, offers the best weather, and this holy month, dedicated to prayer, self-reflection, and religious devotion, also traditionally marks the peak season to perform Umrah. Though Makkah is well-known for its excessive hot days, surprisingly, this March offers a pleasant weather. Thousands of Muslim devotees offered their Jummah prayers at the Grand Mosque in Makkah and the Prophet’s Mosque in Madinah on Friday (March 15), the first Jummah of Ramadan. All the floors of the Grand Mosque and its adjacent courtyards were full of devotees, and the rows of devotees spilled over to the streets of the Central Haram area. Many of the Muslims offered Jummah from their respective hotels, which are connected with the Grand Mosque through audio transmission. Meanwhile, the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman approved hosting 1,000 Umrah pilgrims from countries around the world during the year 2024. The guests representing the fourth and final batch of 2024, which includes 250 prominent Islamic Umrah pilgrims, male and female, representing 16 countries from the continents of Europe and Asia, are visitng the kingdom to perform Umrah. Read more: Saudi Arabia offers Nusuk platform for Bangladeshi visitors to increase accessibility and simplify Umrah Journey Islamic scholars, journalists, students, and influencers like the founder and CEO of 10 Minute School, Ayman Sadiq; and author, speaker, English teacher Munzereen Shahid are among the Bangladesh delegation members. "To be honest, I feel so lucky. I knew about the stories of these historical places. Now I had the opportunity to see in my own eyes," said Munzereen Shahid. She said there is no language barrier or cultural divide here. "I see an extraordinary unity among people. I have a desire to come again," said Munzereen who performed her first Umrah together with her husband Ayman Sadiq. "Had the honor of visiting the King Fahd Quran Printing Complex in Madinah, where millions of copies of the Holy Quran are printed every year. Madinah is peaceful," Ayman shared his experience of visiting the historic place in Madinah before performing Umrah. Talking to UNB, Musa Takai from New Zealand said, "It is quite unimaginable. I am grateful to Almighty Allah first and then to the Royal family for giving us this opportunity to perform Umrah." ​Musa expressed his sincere thanks and great appreciation to the Custodian of the two Holy Mosques and the crown prince for graciously hosting him to perform Umrah. He added that the kingdom always provides care and attention to the guests of Allah providing integrated services and stressed that the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques’ Umrah and Visitation Program is a wonderful model.

In a decisive statement released by the Saudi Press Agency on Wednesday (February 07, 2024), the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia has clarified its stance to the United States regarding the establishment of diplomatic relations with Israel. The Saudi Foreign Ministry articulated that such relations depend upon the recognition of an independent Palestinian state within the 1967 borders, with East Jerusalem serving as its capital. This announcement underscores the kingdom’s unwavering position on the Palestinian issue, emphasizing the necessity for the Palestinian people to secure their legitimate rights. Read more: ICJ should work to achieve its goal: Palestine Ambassador The statement further demanded an immediate cessation of Israeli aggression in the Gaza Strip and the complete withdrawal of Israeli occupation forces from the area. This stance was conveyed amidst discussions on the Arab-Israeli peace process, particularly in response to comments attributed to the US National Security Spokesperson. Saudi Arabia also renewed its appeal to the permanent members of the UN Security Council, urging those who have not yet recognized the Palestinian state to do so promptly. The goal is to ensure that the Palestinian people attain their legitimate rights and to pave the way for a comprehensive and just peace for all parties involved. This development comes in the wake of White House National Security spokesperson John Kirby’s remarks on Tuesday, indicating optimistic signals that Saudi Arabia and Israel are open to continuing normalization discussions. The move would follow in the footsteps of Saudi Arabia’s Gulf neighbors, the United Arab Emirates and Bahrain, which established diplomatic ties with Israel in 2020 under the Abraham Accords. Read more: Silencing Palestinian perspectives: CNN staff criticize network’s pro-Israel bias

During a recent trip to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA), Salman Fazlur Rahman, Prime Minister’s Advisor on Private Industry and Investment, sought extended credit terms to alleviate Bangladesh's pressing dollar crisis. This request was made to facilitate longer payment periods for fuel imports from Saudi Arabia, a critical concern given the current financial constraints. In a press briefing held on Tuesday (February 06, 2024) at the Bangladesh Investment Development Authority (BIDA) building upon his return, Rahman shared insights from his three-day visit. “Currently, we have a 45-day window to settle payments for fuel imports from Saudi Arabia. Given the dollar scarcity, extending this to a year would greatly benefit us. The Saudi officials have agreed to consider this proposal,” Rahman disclosed. Rahman represented Bangladesh at the Islamic Military Counter Terrorism Coalition (IMCTC) meeting, emphasizing Bangladesh’s firm stance against terrorism and the misuse of Islam to justify such acts. “Terror has no religion, and by fostering cooperation among Islamic nations through the IMCTC, we aim to combat the defamation of Islam by terrorism,” he stated. Read: President urges KSA to invest more in Bangladesh The advisor highlighted the unanimous condemnation of the ongoing crises in Gaza by meeting participants, alongside a collective call for resolution. The plight of the Rohingya refugees in Bangladesh was also addressed, with a commitment to seek solutions. On the economic front, Rahman revealed Saudi investors’ interest in establishing a special economic zone in Bangladesh. “We are keen to allocate an economic zone to Saudi Arabia within Bangladesh. Their investment minister has shown enthusiasm for this project,” Rahman noted. Additionally, plans are underway to bolster Bangladesh’s agricultural sector through the joint establishment of a urea fertilizer plant in Saudi Arabia. “This collaboration aims to ensure a steady supply of fertilizers, enhancing our agricultural output. The proposal has been warmly received, with a feasibility study due to conclude by March,” he explained, highlighting the opportunity for private sector involvement alongside government-to-government initiatives. Read more: KSA's Majlish E Shura Council President Abdullah arrives in Dhaka

State Minister for Foreign Affairs Md Shahriar Alam on Sunday urged the Bangladesh nationals to get registered as the evacuation will begin within a couple of days with the support from Indonesia and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA). “We think there are 1500 Bangladesh nationals in Sudan, and so far, 700 of them have registered,” he told reporters at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, urging the remaining Bangladesh citizens to get registered soon through available means. At first the Bangladeshi nationals will be taken to Port Sudan from Khartoum by buses on May 2, and from there they will be taken to Jeddah by ships. He mentioned that it is a twelve-hour voyage from Port Sudan to Jeddah Port to cross the Red Sea and later within next 48 hours they will be brought back to Bangladesh, mainly through Jeddah. “Instructions have been made to onboard those Bangladeshis immediately who have passports. The individuals who do not have passports will be given travel documents and they will get the next available ships as there will be several Saudi ships,” said the State Minister, thanking the Indonesia and Saudi authorities for their support. Read more: Expecting evacuation of Bangladeshis in Sudan by this month or early next month: Chief of Mission The state minister briefed the media at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on the current situation in Sudan and evacuation of the Bangladesh citizens. Around 35 Bangladesh nationals safely left Sudan so far, he said. Before the meeting, he had an inter-ministerial meeting at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs with the relevant senior officials. “We hope we will be able to bring them back quickly who are already registered,” Shahriar said, adding that a representative from the Biman Bangladesh Airlines was present at the meeting. He said the national flag carrier has made preparations to bring the Bangladeshis from Jeddah and other cities, if necessary, through regular flights. Read more: Bangladeshis stranded in Sudan to be brought back via Jeddah: Foreign Ministry “They have preparations for operating special flights, too if required,” said the State Minister. The Bangladesh Embassy in Khartoum has already arranged nine buses to take the Bangladeshi nationals to Port Sudan from Khartoum and adjacent cities and a team from Bangladesh’s Consulate General in Jeddah will reach there to assist them. All the Bangladeshis, stranded in Sudan, will be taken to Port Sudan by May 2. Earlier, on April 25, State Minister Shahriar Alam said a decision had been made to evacuate Bangladeshi nationals from Sudan through other countries. “The Bangladesh Embassy in Khartoum has already started spreading this message among the Bangladeshis living there,” he wrote on Facebook. The state minister urged the Bangladeshi nationals in Sudan to follow the instructions provided by the embassy and complete registration. United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres called the situation in Sudan a “catastrophic conflagration” that could engulf the whole region.  

Air Chief Marshal Shaikh Abdul Hannan left Dhaka for Saudi Arabia on Sunday for an official visit along with his spouse on an invitation of Commander of Royal Saudi Air Force Lieutenant General Turki Bin Bandar Bin Abdul Aziz.During the visit, Chief of Air Staff of Bangladesh Air Force will make a courtesy call with Chief of General Staff General Fayiadh Bin Ha’med Al-Ruwaily and HH Commander of Royal Saudi Air Force Lieutenant General Turki Bin Bandar Bin Abdul Aziz and exchange views on bilateral issues of mutual interests, said the Inter Service Public Relation (ISPR) in a press release on Monday. Read: Air chief returns home from UK He will also visit various aviation institutions and installations including King Abdullah Air Base.It is expected that the visit of the Chief of Air Staff will play a vital role in creating opportunities to strengthen the relationship between the two nations, it said.

Bangladesh and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA) are keen to strengthen economic cooperation through an increased presence in the fields of trade, investment and direct shipping connectivity between Chattogram and Jeddah. Saudi Ambassador to Bangladesh Essa Youssef Essa Al Duhailan met State Minister for Foreign Affairs Md. Shahriar Alam on Monday and discussed ways to further broaden the relations. Tha Ambassador congratulated the government of Bangladesh under the leadership of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina for successful completion of the Padma Multipurpose Bridge. Also read: Bangladesh gets another 4 mn doses of COVID-19 vaccine from US The State Minister thanked the Ambassador and government of Saudi Arabia for necessary arrangements including pre-immigration facilities for pilgrims at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport. The Ambassador briefed the State Minister on further willingness of more Saudi investment in Bangladesh. The State Minister expressed his satisfaction over the excellent relationship that exists between Bangladesh and Saudi Arabia in bilateral and multilateral sectors. Also read: Dhaka requests London for resettlement of one lakh Rohingyas He thanked the Ambassador for his efforts in promoting the relations between Bangladesh and Saudi Arabia. They also discussed cooperation in the areas of culture, education and tourism.

Bangladesh has sought effective steps to establish lasting peace in Afghanistan, ensure safety of Afghan people and evacuate all foreign nationals including Bangladeshis safely. Bangladesh Ambassador to Saudi Arabia Dr Mohammad Javed Patwary made the call at an emergency meeting of Permanent Representatives of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation held in Jeddah on Sunday. There are reports that at least 20 Bangladesh nationals got stuck in Afghanistan. The Bangladesh Embassy in Uzbekistan is in touch to ensure their safe return. The Ambassador said Bangladesh stands ready to share its socioeconomic development experiences with the Afghan people once the situation gets normalized. At the invitation of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Chair of the 14th Islamic Summit, and the OIC Executive Committee, the extraordinary open-ended meeting of the OIC Executive Committee at the level of Permanent Representatives on the situation in Afghanistan was held at the headquarters of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) General Secretariat in Jeddah. The meeting expressed solidarity with the people of Afghanistan and reiterated the commitment of the OIC's Member States to help them bring peace, security, stability, and development to Afghanistan. It also urged all parties to work towards advancing the interests of the Afghan people, to renounce violence and urgently restore security and civil order throughout the Afghan society, and to establish lasting peace to achieve the aspirations of the Afghan people for stability, decent life, respect of their rights, and prosperity. Earlier, State Minister for Foreign Affairs Md. Shahriar Alam said Bangladesh wants to see lasting peace in Afghanistan that has gone through many ups and downs, noting that the current situation has an impact on South Asian politics.

Bangladesh has requested the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA) to increase flights between the two countries so that the expatriates who got stuck here can return to their workplaces smoothly.

Foreign Minister Dr AK Abdul Momen on Friday reiterated that the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA) will not send back 54,000 Rohingyas living there for decades.

The government has urged expatriate Bangladeshis who will return to their workplaces in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA) to maintain discipline while collecting tickets and applying for visa extension.