United News of Bangladesh

The first Hajj flight from Bangladesh with 419 pilgrims has reached Saudi Arabia. A Biman Bangladesh Airlines flight (BG 3001) landed at King Abdulaziz International Airport in Jeddah at 4:20 am (local time). Bangladesh Ambassador to Saudi Arabia Md. Delwar Hossain and Counsellor (Hajj) Md. Kamrul Islam received the pilgrims. Flowers and refreshment kits were distributed among the pilgrims. Bangladesh Consul General in Jeddah Md. Shakhawat Hossain, Assistant Seasonal Hajj Officer Md. Ruhul Amin, Head of Operations at Jeddah Hajj Terminal Yahya Radi, and Raed Bakshawn, manager of Saudi service provider Nusuk Marhaba responsible for assisting pilgrims were present there. The first Hajj flight, carrying 419 pilgrims departed from Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport at 12:20am for Saudi Arabia on Friday. According to the Ministry of Religious Affairs, a total of 14 flights will be operated on the first day — six by Biman Bangladesh Airlines, four by Saudi Airlines and four by Flynas. A total of 78,500 pilgrims from Bangladesh will perform Hajj in 2026. Of them, 4,565 will travel under the government arrangement, while 73,935 will go through private Hajj agencies. Under the agreement with Saudi Arabia, Biman Bangladesh Airlines will carry 50 percent of the pilgrims. Of the remaining 50 percent, Saudi Airlines will transport 35 percent and Flynas 15 percent. Subject to moon sighting, Hajj is expected to be held on 26 May Return flights are scheduled to begin on 30 May and continue until 1 July.    

Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif is set to visit Saudi Arabia, Qatar and Turkey this week as part of a diplomatic effort to help restart talks between the United States and Iran. The visit comes just days after Islamabad hosted rare negotiations between Washington and Tehran that ended without a formal agreement. Sharif is trying to help arrange a second round of talks before a temporary ceasefire expires on April 22. Pakistan’s Foreign Ministry said the four-day trip, beginning Wednesday and ending Saturday, will also focus on strengthening bilateral relations. During his stops in Saudi Arabia and Qatar, Sharif is expected to discuss cooperation as well as regional peace and security with their leaders. In Turkey, he will attend the Antalya Diplomacy Forum and hold meetings with President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and other global leaders. Meanwhile, Saudi Arabia has agreed to deposit $3 billion into Pakistan’s central bank, Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb said Wednesday. The funds are expected to provide crucial support to Pakistan’s economy, which has been under pressure due to regional tensions linked to the US-Iran conflict. Aurangzeb, currently in Washington, D.C. for meetings of the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund, said an existing $5 billion Saudi deposit will now be extended for a longer period instead of being renewed annually. Earlier this month, Pakistani authorities said the country plans to return $2 billion deposited by the United Arab Emirates in 2019 to its central bank.

Several US diplomatic missions across the Middle East have suspended operations and issued urgent security advisories following escalating regional tensions and security incidents. The US Embassy in Kuwait announced it has shut down operations “until further notice,” citing ongoing regional tensions. In a statement, the embassy said all regular and emergency consular appointments have been cancelled and that it would inform the public when normal operations resume. The closure follows days of mounting casualties and military incidents in the region. According to the US military, six American troops were killed and three US fighter jets crashed in Kuwait in what was described as an apparent friendly fire incident. Meanwhile, the US Embassy in Iraq has ordered non-emergency US government employees to leave the country due to security reasons. The mission also updated its travel advisory, prohibiting US government personnel in Baghdad from using the city’s international airport over security risks. A US State Department official earlier urged American citizens to depart immediately from more than a dozen countries due to serious safety risks. The countries include Bahrain, Egypt, Iran, Iraq, Israel, West Bank, Gaza, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Syria, United Arab Emirates and Yemen. In Saudi Arabia, the US Embassy in Riyadh announced the cancellation of all routine and emergency services following an attack on the facility. The embassy said a shelter-in-place order was in effect at its missions in Riyadh, Jeddah and Dhahran, and advised US citizens to avoid embassy premises until further notice. The embassy also urged all American citizens in the Kingdom to maintain a personal safety plan as security concerns continue across the region. #With Inputs from Al Jazeera

US-Bangla Airlines flights to Riyadh and Jeddah in Saudi Arabia and Muscat in Oman will operate as per the schedule Sunday. Passengers are requested to arrive at the airport at least four hours before their flight and collect boarding passes from the US-Bangla Airlines check-in counters, said a press release. Meanwhile, considering the ongoing situation in the Middle East, US-Bangla Airlines has temporarily suspended flights to Dubai, Abu Dhabi, and Sharjah in the United Arab Emirates, as well as Doha in Qatar. Airline authorities said they will contact affected passengers once flights to the UAE and Qatar resume. For information regarding US-Bangla Airlines flights, passengers can contact 13605 or 01777777800-806, it added.

Saudi Arabia’s Food and Drug Authority (SFDA) has banned the import of poultry and table eggs from 40 countries including Bangladesh aimed at protecting public health and ensuring food safety in the kingdom. It also imposed partial restrictions on certain regions in 16 other countries, reports Gulf News. The authority said the list of affected countries is regularly reviewed in line with global health developments and epidemiological updates. According to the latest update, some bans have been in place since 2004, while others were introduced gradually over the years based on risk assessments and international reports on animal diseases, especially highly pathogenic avian influenza outbreaks. The full ban covers imports from Afghanistan, Azerbaijan, Germany, Indonesia, Iran, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Bangladesh, Taiwan, Djibouti, South Africa, China, Iraq, Ghana, Palestine, Vietnam, Cambodia, Kazakhstan, Cameroon, South Korea, North Korea, Laos, Libya, Myanmar, the United Kingdom, Egypt, Mexico, Mongolia, Nepal, Niger, Nigeria, India, Hong Kong, Japan, Burkina Faso, Sudan, Serbia, Slovenia, Côte d’Ivoire and Montenegro. Partial restrictions apply to certain states or cities in Australia, the United States, Italy, Belgium, Bhutan, Poland, Togo, Denmark, Romania, Zimbabwe, France, the Philippines, Canada, Malaysia, Austria and the Democratic Republic of Congo. The SFDA clarified that the ban does not cover heat-treated poultry and related products, provided they meet approved health and safety standards. Such products must carry official certification confirming that they have been processed to eliminate avian influenza and Newcastle disease viruses and come from approved facilities in the exporting country.

Five Bangladeshi nationals including four members of a family have been killed in a road crash in Saudi Arabia. The deceased were identified as Mizanur Rahman, 42, his wife Meher Afroz Sumi, 30, their two-daughters—Mohna, 13 and Subah of Ramganj upazila and Hossain Mohammad Jilani alias Babo, 30 of Balakot area in the upazila. Another daughter of Mizanur identified as Faiza Akter, 11 in  undergoing treatment at a hospital in Saudi Arabia, said their family. Eight shops gutted in fire in Laxmipur Firoz Uddin Chowdhury, Officer-in-Charge of Ramganj Police Station, said the accident occurred around local time 3 am (Bangladesh time 11 pm) in Abha area of Saudi Arabia. Baharul Alam, elder brother of Mizanur, said Mizanur had long been involved in hotel business in Saudi Arabia. On February 3, Mizanur along with his wife and three daughters went to Saudi Arabia to perform Umrah. They met the  tragic accident while returning home after performing Umrah.  

The Trump administration on Friday approved major new arms sales to Israel totaling $6.67 billion and to Saudi Arabia worth $9 billion, the State Department announced, as tensions rise in the Middle East over potential U.S. military action against Iran. The deals were made public after the department notified Congress of its approval earlier in the day. The approvals coincide with President Donald Trump’s push to implement a ceasefire and reconstruction plan for Gaza, aimed at ending the Israel-Hamas conflict and rebuilding the war-torn Palestinian territory, where two years of fighting left tens of thousands dead. Despite relative calm under the ceasefire, significant challenges remain, including deploying an international security force and disarming Hamas. Saudi Arabia arms packageThe $9 billion Saudi deal includes 730 Patriot missiles and related equipment, intended to bolster regional security and support U.S. foreign policy objectives. “This enhanced capability will protect land forces of Saudi Arabia, the United States, and local allies and will significantly improve Saudi Arabia’s contribution to the integrated air and missile defense system in the region,” the department said. The announcement followed a meeting between Saudi Defense Minister Khalid bin Salman and senior Trump administration officials, including Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth. Israel arms packagesThe $6.67 billion in arms sales to Israel are divided into four packages, the largest being 30 Apache attack helicopters with advanced targeting systems and rocket launchers, valued at $3.8 billion. Another $1.98 billion is allocated for 3,250 light tactical vehicles to transport personnel and logistics for the Israel Defense Forces. Under the deals, Israel will also spend $740 million on power packs for armored personnel carriers in service since 2008 and $150 million on a small number of light utility helicopters to complement existing equipment. The State Department emphasized that none of the sales would affect the regional military balance but would strengthen Israel’s ability to defend its borders, infrastructure, and population centers. “The United States is committed to the security of Israel, and it is vital to U.S. national interests to assist Israel to develop and maintain a strong and ready self-defense capability,” the department said. Political reactionsRep. Gregory Meeks, the top Democrat on the House Foreign Affairs Committee, criticised the administration for rushing the announcement, accusing it of bypassing congressional oversight and failing to consult lawmakers on broader U.S.-Israel policy and next steps in Gaza. The arms sales come as the Trump administration maintains close security ties with both Israel and Saudi Arabia amid heightened regional tensions and ongoing efforts to stabilise the Middle East.

Seven countries, including Saudi Arabia, Turkey and Egypt, have agreed to join US President Donald Trump’s newly formed Board of Peace, according to a joint statement. Israel had earlier confirmed its participation. Trump on Wednesday said Russian President Vladimir Putin had also accepted the invitation, though Moscow later clarified it was still under consideration. The board, initially linked to ending the two-year Israel-Hamas conflict and overseeing Gaza reconstruction, does not specifically mention Palestine in its charter and appears aimed at taking on functions similar to the UN. Saudi Arabia said the Muslim-majority nations – Saudi Arabia, Turkey, Egypt, Jordan, Indonesia, Pakistan and Qatar – support efforts for a lasting ceasefire in Gaza, reconstruction, and what they called a “just and lasting peace”. The body’s charter will take effect once three states formally agree, with member nations holding renewable three-year terms. Contributions of $1 billion will secure permanent seats. Trump will serve as chairman and US representative with authority to appoint executive board members. The White House last week named seven founding Executive Board members, including US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Trump’s son-in-law Jared Kushner, former UK Prime Minister Tony Blair, and former UN Middle East envoy Nickolay Mladenov. Phase one of the plan involved a ceasefire, partial prisoner exchange, limited Israeli withdrawal, and increased humanitarian aid. Israel says the second phase, including reconstruction and demilitarisation, will proceed only after the return of the last hostages. Humanitarian conditions remain fragile. Gaza’s Hamas-run health ministry reports over 460 Palestinian deaths from Israeli strikes since the ceasefire, while Israel reports three soldiers killed in Palestinian attacks. The board faces challenges, as Hamas has resisted disarming without recognition of a Palestinian state, and Israel has not fully committed to withdrawing from Gaza.   With inputs from BBC

Saudi Arabian Mining Company (Maaden) has reported the discovery of 7.8 million ounces of additional gold resources across four locations in the Kingdom, strengthening its drive to grow domestic mineral reserves and build a global gold business. The new resources were identified at Mansourah Massarah, Uruq 20/21, Umm As Salam and the newly defined Wadi Al Jaww site. The expansion follows an intensive drilling programme that initially outlined more than nine million ounces before standard annual reporting adjustments. Mansourah Massarah delivered the biggest increase, adding three million ounces year-on-year. Uruq 20/21 and Umm As Salam together contributed 1.67 million ounces, while Wadi Al Jaww delivered a maiden resource of 3.08 million ounces. CEO Bob Wilt said the findings validate Maaden’s long-term strategy. “The results leave no doubt that the company’s long-term strategy is working on the ground. This is exactly why we continue to invest heavily in Saudi Arabia’s gold endowment,” he said. Read more: What Does Gold Carat Mean? Decoding Gold Purity Levels He added that the latest discoveries highlight the scale of Maaden’s exploration pipeline. “The addition of more than seven million ounces through drilling across the four areas demonstrates the scale and ongoing potential of Maaden’s gold portfolio, and it continues to deliver as we advance exploration and mine development. Our assets are growing, and that growth directly supports future cash generation.” Maaden’s 2026 exploration programme is focused on the Central Arabian Gold Region, where drilling has identified new mineralised zones and possible mine extensions. Work is also underway near the historic Mahd gold site to assess opportunities to extend mine life, reports Gulf News. Wilt said the results also support Maaden’s diversification plans. “The results underline the strength of the company’s broader pipeline. These early copper and nickel results show the same signals we saw first in gold and that the Arabian Shield has real scale to continue developing,” he said. “What we’re seeing at Shayban and Jabal Al Wakil points to a much bigger opportunity across the Kingdom and reinforces our ambition to build a strong multi-commodity portfolio alongside our growing gold business.” Read More: Gold price hits record Tk 234,680 per bhori in Bangladesh Maaden’s flagship Mansourah Massarah project now hosts an estimated 116 million tonnes grading 2.8 grams of gold per tonne, equivalent to a total resource of 10.4 million ounces. The company said mineralisation remains open at depth, with further drilling planned through 2026.

Saudi Arabia has welcomed a request from Yemen’s Saudi-backed Presidential Leadership Council (PLC) to convene talks in Riyadh aimed at easing a violent power struggle in southern Yemen that has intensified fighting and heightened tensions among Gulf states. In a statement issued Saturday, the Saudi foreign ministry urged southern Yemeni factions to attend the proposed forum in the capital, saying the goal is to develop a unified and fair approach to addressing southern grievances. Earlier the same day, PLC Chairman Rashad al-Alimi called on political leaders and armed groups in southern Yemen to take part in the Riyadh meeting, according to Yemen’s SABA news agency. Al-Alimi stressed the importance of the southern issue and rejected any one-sided or exclusionary solutions to the conflict. Violence has escalated in recent days after the Southern Transitional Council (STC), a separatist group, launched a major offensive in Hadramout and Al-Mahra provinces, which together account for nearly half of Yemen’s territory. Oil-rich Hadramout, which borders Saudi Arabia and has deep historical ties to the kingdom, was viewed by Riyadh as strategically sensitive. The STC’s seizure of parts of the province last month raised alarm in Saudi Arabia. Although the STC is part of the anti-Houthi coalition, it is widely believed to seek an independent southern state, putting it at odds with the internationally recognised Yemeni government led by the PLC. Saudi Arabia has accused its coalition partner, the United Arab Emirates, of supplying arms to the STC—claims Abu Dhabi has denied, saying it supports Saudi security. The UAE, meanwhile, voiced serious concern over the escalating violence and urged restraint to preserve Yemen’s stability. It also announced the withdrawal of its remaining troops from Yemen, citing the completion of counterterrorism missions, a move that may signal easing tensions with Saudi Arabia. Saudi Arabia bombs Yemen over shipment of weapons for separatists that arrived from UAE The Saudi-led coalition was formed in 2015 to push back Iran-aligned Houthi rebels, but after years of war, the Houthis still control the north while rival Saudi- and Emirati-backed groups are now clashing in the south. Analysts warn that unless the conflict is contained, the latest violence could usher in a dangerous new phase of the war, with competing forces fighting to redraw territorial control—an outcome that could have repercussions beyond Yemen itself.