Saudi authorities arrested 14,434 people in one week over alleged violations of residency, labor and border-security laws, the Interior Ministry said. The total included 6,976 people accused of residency-law violations, 4,110 accused of attempting to cross the border illegally, and 3,348 accused of labor-law violations.

Among those detained while attempting to enter Saudi Arabia illegally were 1,450 people. Ethiopians accounted for 58 percent of that group, Yemenis for 41 percent, and nationals of other countries for the remaining 1 percent. Authorities also arrested 44 people while they allegedly tried to enter neighboring countries illegally from Saudi Arabia.

A further 27 people were arrested on accusations of transporting or sheltering violators. The ministry warned that facilitating illegal entry, transport or shelter could bring up to 15 years in prison, a fine of up to 1 million Saudi riyals, and confiscation of vehicles and property used. Reports can be made through 911 in Mecca and Riyadh, or 999 and 996 elsewhere.

Police in Tongi, Gazipur arrested a 22-year-old man accused of posing as a police officer and seized a private car and several items from him. The arrest took place Friday evening opposite Al Amin Bakery on the Ghorashal-Kaliganj road beside Tongi East Police Station. Police sent him to court on Saturday afternoon.

The detainee was identified as Arian Ahmed Alfi, 22, son of the late Yasin Iqbal of the Morkun Coca-Cola Gate area in Tongi. Police said they acted on confidential information that a person was present in the Station Road area while claiming to be a police officer.

Authorities seized a walkie-talkie, a hooter, a toy pistol, a signal light and a private car bearing registration number Dhaka Metro-G 36-6359. Tongi East Police Station Officer-in-Charge Mohammad Maksudul Alam said a case was filed against Alfi under the relevant law before he was sent to court.

Former Bangladesh inspector general of police Benazir Ahmed has reportedly moved from Dubai to the Caribbean island state of Saint Lucia on 17 August, after being released on bail in the United Arab Emirates. Sources cited by the report said he holds a Saint Lucian passport, has joint investments there and owns a flat in the Gros Islet area. A recently compulsorily retired deputy inspector general, described as maintaining contact with Benazir and his family, confirmed the reported move.

The report said a Dubai court granted Benazir conditional bail on 27 July and he was released on 30 July after legal procedures concerning Bangladesh's extradition-related documents. Bangladesh had sent Dubai police a 244-page dossier on 20 June. Police headquarters said communication with the UAE government continued and necessary information had been supplied.

Officials said they were checking the reported Saint Lucia travel. The report alleges Benazir possesses passports from six countries and faces allegations and cases including corruption, money laundering and crimes against humanity. Criminologist Touhidul Haque said the departure had increased uncertainty about bringing him before the law and called for stronger efforts through Interpol.

A Narayanganj court sent two young men to jail on Saturday in a case filed after videos showing them carrying toy guns spread on social media. District Judicial Magistrate First Court Judge Yasir Arafat issued the order. Police arrested them from the city’s Railgate area on Friday night under the Speedy Trial Act, alleging they had disrupted law and order.

District police identified the accused as Limon Toha, 22, son of Shamim Ahmed of Bandar Bazar, and Yasin Molla, 23, son of Swapan Molla of Bandar Fire Service lane. Police said a video filmed in different parts of Narayanganj City Park circulated online on August 28. The district police ICT branch used technical analysis to identify Toha as the video’s maker and Molla as the person carrying the gun.

Additional Superintendent of Police for Crime Tarek Al Mehdi said officers recovered a plastic shotgun-like toy and a plastic SMG-like toy during the arrests. He said the men displayed the items in public places, creating fear among pedestrians and others, before sharing the footage online. Police said such conduct in crowded areas cannot be treated as entertainment.

The Rangpur Bar Association has announced that its lawyers will temporarily not represent accused persons in the murder case involving retired Rangpur Zilla School teacher Ganapati Chakraborty and members of his family. Association general secretary Advocate Aftab Uddin made the announcement at a Saturday morning press conference at the Lawyers’ Building hallroom.

Uddin said the legal community was deeply concerned by the killings and that the decision would remain in place until a proper investigation and justice are ensured. He called for the real perpetrators to be brought under the law and given exemplary punishment, while also stressing that no innocent person should face harassment. He said the incident should not be politicised or used for political purposes.

The association said its decision is temporary and will be reviewed based on the investigation and surrounding circumstances. Uddin said the period could range from one or two weeks to six months. He said Mugdha Das and Siddhartha Das had given statements under Section 164 admitting involvement, though he stressed that the investigation remains ongoing and no final conclusion can yet be made.

Police in Magura said they arrested Naimuzzaman Nayan, a former thana-level Chhatra Dal president, on Saturday evening over allegations that he slapped a police officer. The incident involving officer Md Imran Hossain reportedly occurred on Friday afternoon following what police described as a minor matter. A video of the alleged assault circulated widely on social media and was reported by several media outlets.

Magura Superintendent of Police Molla Azad Hossain said a case was filed at Sadar police station against three people in connection with the incident. He said Nayan had been arrested and that the move had restored a sense of relief among police personnel.

The report says Nayan faces several other cases involving drugs, weapons and alleged microbus hijacking. It also cites a recent allegation that he collected Tk100,000 through extortion after creating a mob over an alleged rape of a madrasa student in the PTI area. Nayan's elder brother, Jubo Dal leader Abbas Uddin, said the matter had been settled at the police station on Friday night through BNP leaders, but police called Nayan back on Saturday afternoon and detained him.

The Bangladesh Hindu Buddhist Christian Unity Council has demanded a judicial investigation into the killings of Rangpur teacher Ganapati Chakraborty and his family. The organisation also called on the government to make a statement in parliament, identify those truly responsible and ensure exemplary punishment. The demands were made on Saturday at a rally held after a human chain and protest march in front of the National Press Club.

Nirmal Rozario, one of the organisation’s presidents, said it appeared to the group that a special circle had carried out the killings to serve its own objectives and interests. He alleged that police activity had begun to conceal the real incident or divert it in another direction. Other speakers strongly condemned the killings and said the police account of the case was not credible.

Speakers said the incident had created fear not only among local minorities in Rangpur but also among minority communities across the country. They said such incidents could encourage minorities to leave the country and had harmed Bangladesh’s image internationally. The rally was chaired by Youth Unity Council president Shimul Saha and included several organisational leaders, activists, lawyers and journalists.

A Jubo Dal leader, Fazal Amin, died in East Soloshahar of Chattogram after he was allegedly shoved during an argument over vegetable vendors operating from vans on occupied footpaths. The incident occurred on Friday afternoon and became known on Saturday. Amin was the joint convener of the East Soloshahar ward Jubo Dal.

His son, Zobairul Haque Inan, alleged that Amin had long spoken against footpath occupation and extortion in the area. He claimed his father was shoved after opposing the collection of money from van-based vegetable sellers. Residents said vendors had operated on the footpaths for a long time, forcing pedestrians to use the road.

Chandgaon police investigation officer Md Sabuj said the actual cause of the incident and whether the shove was directly linked to Amin's death would be determined through an investigation. Amin's family has filed a case, he said. Chattogram metropolitan Jubo Dal president Mosharraf Hossain Dipti said the organization was seeking facts and had asked police to take action after establishing what happened.

Bangladesh Coast Guard seized an Indian artisanal trawling boat and eight trawling nets during an operation in Char Fasson of Bhola district on Friday night. The raid was conducted at about 10pm in the Maya River area under Dularhat police station, following secret information, according to the Coast Guard.

The Coast Guard outposts at Lalmohan and Char Manika carried out the special operation. Officials said the seized boat was later confirmed as Indian through the upazila fisheries officer. Authorities initially suspect that some dishonest Bangladeshi individuals had illegally brought the boat into Bangladesh and were preparing to use it for fishing.

No one was arrested because the fishermen aboard fled after noticing the Coast Guard presence during the operation. Legal procedures concerning the seized Indian artisanal trawling boat and nets are under way. Coast Guard media officer Lieutenant Commander Sabbir Alam Sujon confirmed the matter.

Two 19-year-old friends died in a road crash while returning home after buying a new motorcycle in Mirsarai, Chattogram, on Friday night. The accident occurred around 10:30pm on the Mirsarai National Special Economic Zone road, near the Boro Takia Gate area. The victims were identified as Talat Mahmud Shuvo and Abdullah Al Omar.

According to the report, the friends had purchased the motorcycle from Baraiyarhat Bazar and were travelling home when a truck struck them. Shuvo died at the scene. Omar was rescued in critical condition and died while being taken to Chattogram Medical College Hospital.

Shuvo was the son of the late Aminul Islam of Miyapara village, while Omar was the son of expatriate Sheikh Farid from Fakirpara. Relatives said the two were friends who worked at a laboratory in the local Abutorab Bazar alongside their studies. Mirsarai police officer-in-charge Farida Yasmin said police received information about Shuvo's death and sent teams to both areas.

An armed robbery was reported at the home of Saudi expatriate businessman Faridul Alam, a member of Ramu Upazila BNP’s convening committee, in the Chailatali area of Ramu, Cox’s Bazar. Family members said a group of about 12 robbers arrived in a microbus around 2am on Friday, broke down the door and entered the house. They allegedly took gold jewellery, cash and Saudi riyals.

Faridul Alam alleged that the robbers carried guns, pistols, knives and other locally made weapons. He said they threatened family members while searching the home and stole about 18 bhori of gold jewellery, Tk500,000 in cash and 7,000 Saudi riyals. Several people, including a homemaker, were allegedly beaten and injured during the robbery.

Villagers reportedly approached after learning of the robbers’ presence, prompting the group to flee in the microbus. Ramu police visited the scene, and Officer-in-Charge Fazlul Haque said the incident would be investigated to identify those involved and take legal action. Faridul Alam said preparations were under way to file a case.

Bangladesh’s National Board of Revenue said Saturday that Customs Intelligence and Investigation Directorate officers took control of 10 trucks carrying about 81 tonnes of duplex board imported duty-free under bond facilities. The cargo, imported from India’s Mehali Papers Private Limited in the name of Khulna-based Shree Flexopack Limited, was meant for the company’s Telighati facility in Khulna but was allegedly being prepared for sale in Nayabazar, Old Dhaka.

The trucks had been expected to follow the designated bypass route from Chattogram port through Kanchpur, Signboard, Postogola, the Mawa Expressway and Padma Bridge toward the southwest. Instead, the convoy entered Nayabazar. Customs officers, supported directly and indirectly by RAB-10 and Lalbagh police division, launched the operation following intelligence that bonded paper would be unloaded at a local warehouse.

One truck left the area after detecting officers, and authorities are trying to locate it. Officials are checking cargo quantities, ownership, import and transport records, bond licences and approvals. They will also investigate the intended warehouse recipient, possible wider involvement and potential revenue loss. Legal action may follow if misuse of bond facilities or tax evasion is established.

A former Mujib Killa in Alokdia, Shibaloy has allegedly become a gathering place for drug users and gamblers instead of serving its intended disaster-related purpose. The facility, now called a disaster shelter after a name change following the fall of the Awami League government, was built about five years ago at a cost of nearly Tk7 crore, according to the report.

District disaster and relief office sources said the facility was funded by the Ministry of Disaster Management and Relief to house livestock during floods and to be used for social events at other times. Local residents reportedly do not know the project’s purpose, while the building has remained largely unused and poorly maintained, with rubbish and damaged items inside.

Alokdia Union Parishad member Motaleb Hossain said he had heard of drug use, gambling and other alleged antisocial activity at the centre. The report said several people were seen using drugs inside. Manikganj district relief, rehabilitation and disaster management officer Lutfar Rahman said the site is no longer called Mujib Killa and is now named a disaster shelter.

Home Minister Salahuddin Ahmed said a special police unit has been formed to recover illegal and looted weapons, with rewards of up to Tk200,000 for people who help locate them. He announced the measure on Saturday afternoon after a quarterly crime review meeting at the Rajarbagh Police Auditorium.

Ahmed said the operation has already begun with intelligence support from various agencies. He said nationwide drives are also under way to arrest extortionists and terrorists, and warned that police officers who fail to take appropriate action against them will face measures.

The minister said efforts are being made to make police a force that meets public expectations and is friendly to citizens, while improving its image and law-and-order conditions. He said police stations damaged during the July mass uprising have resumed operations and many conditions have returned to normal. However, 1,326 weapons looted from police during that period remain untraced.

Bangladesh’s Education Ministry said Saturday that disciplinary measures have been taken over cheating during an Open University degree examination at Kazipur Degree College in Gangni upazila of Meherpur. A video showing candidates using books during the first-year degree English first-paper examination circulated recently on social media and in news outlets.

Four examinees involved in cheating during the examination have been expelled, according to the ministry’s press release. Two teachers have also been relieved of all examination-related duties. The ministry said preparations are under way to take departmental and legal action against those involved in the incident.

Two journalists were allegedly attacked and beaten while recording video of the incident, and their mobile phones were reportedly taken. Rabby Ahmed, Meherpur district correspondent for Bangladesh Betar and Nagorik Television, filed a case at Gangni police station on Friday against Rafiqzzaman, Moniruzzaman Biplob and 10 unidentified people over the alleged attack.