Seven Bangladeshi expatriate workers from Atrai upazila in Naogaon have died in a fire at a sofa manufacturing factory in Saudi Arabia. The fire occurred on Sunday, August 9. Atrai Upazila Nirbahi Officer Md Moniruzzaman confirmed the deaths of seven people at about 10:30pm. All of the victims worked at the factory.

Four of those killed were from Gondogohali village, two were from Bisha village and one was from Parkasunda village in Atrai upazila. The upazila executive officer said the death toll could rise. The report did not provide the cause of the fire or further details about other possible casualties.

Some local social media posts at night put the death toll at 15, 17 or 19, but those figures could not be verified. News of the deaths of seven expatriates from the same area has brought mourning across Atrai upazila. Bereaved families were reported to be grieving following the incident.

Houthi rebels carried out a drone attack on a Saudi Aramco oil refinery in the Jizan region of Saudi Arabia. Houthi military spokesperson Brigadier General Yahya Saree said in a statement that the refinery was struck “accurately and successfully” with a drone on Sunday. Al Masirah TV reported that a fire broke out at the oil refinery early Sunday.

Saree said Saudi Arabia had flown intelligence and surveillance drones over the airspace of Saada and Hajjah provinces in northern Yemen in recent days. He described those activities as “provocative” and said the refinery attack was carried out in response.

Saudi Arabia’s Energy Ministry said firefighters had extinguished the early-morning fire at one facility of the Aramco refinery. The ministry said there were no casualties in the incident.

Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Pakistani Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif performed Friday prayers in the same row at Mecca’s Grand Mosque. They were joined by Pakistan army chief Asim Munir and Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan, according to the report. Erdogan and Sharif were in Saudi Arabia in connection with a joint defence agreement.

The report said the joint defence agreement was signed on Friday. It described Friday as a special day for Muslims, when congregants perform Jumu’ah prayers after the midday sermon. The leaders’ joint prayer at the Grand Mosque was reported in the context of their Saudi visit and the agreement.

Pakistani Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar and others also prayed in the same row, the report said. Saudi-based news outlet Saudi Gazette published several photographs of the Muslim leaders praying on its social media accounts. The source did not provide further details on the agreement’s terms or other parts of the visit.

Saudi Arabia has appointed Rear Admiral Abdullah bin Salem al-Shehri as commander of a multinational maritime defence alliance comprising 14 countries, including Bangladesh. The Saudi Defence Ministry announced the appointment on Thursday, saying the move aims to protect shipping security in the Bab al-Mandab Strait, the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden.

Al-Shehri will oversee joint naval defence, coordinate with member states and other maritime alliances, and lead missions under the alliance’s charter. Bangladesh, Bahrain, Comoros, Djibouti, Egypt, Jordan, Kuwait, Pakistan, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Somalia, Sudan, Turkey and Yemen announced the alliance’s formation on July 30.

Saudi Arabia described the grouping as an open international alliance for countries that agree with its goals and principles. It said applications for membership are being received regularly, with some countries having signed the joint declaration and others preparing to sign the declaration and charter. A planning meeting on August 12 and 13 is set to finalize the alliance’s institutional structure and create a path for additional countries to join. Its stated objectives include protecting freedom of navigation, trade routes and energy supply routes.

Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif is visiting Saudi Arabia, a trip described as significant as the region passes through a critical period. The report, published on August 7, 2026, says regional security is a top priority for Saudi Arabia, Turkey and Pakistan. Turkey and Pakistan both share borders with Iran, making instability in the region a direct concern for them.

Preparations for the initiative began in April, when the so-called R-4 countries—Egypt, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and Turkey—met in Riyadh for the first time. According to the report, Pakistan was assigned responsibility for mediating efforts to ease ongoing tensions between Iran and the United States.

The foreign ministers of the four countries have held several meetings over the past 24 hours, with the report suggesting that discussion points were largely finalized there. It says regional powers are moving toward cooperation by combining military capabilities, technology, energy resources and Saudi Arabia’s financial strength. The move is viewed as important in light of the Middle East situation following the Iran war.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan is travelling to Saudi Arabia for a one-day visit to attend a trilateral meeting with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif. Turkey’s presidential communications chief Burhanettin Duran announced the visit on Thursday. The meeting is being held amid growing cooperation among the three regional powers.

Shehbaz Sharif arrived in Saudi Arabia on Thursday for a three-day official visit. He is accompanied by Pakistan’s army chief, Field Marshal Asim Munir, and a high-level delegation. Regional security and defence cooperation are expected to receive particular attention during the Pakistani prime minister’s visit.

Ankara has not released an official agenda for the trilateral meeting. However, the report said regional security, maritime threats, the Iran war and defence cooperation are expected to be central subjects of discussion. No further details about the format, outcomes or scheduled follow-up from the meeting were provided.

Saudi Arabia has decided to introduce mandatory Nusuk food vouchers for Umrah pilgrims arriving from Bangladesh, Pakistan, India and Egypt. According to a report published on August 5, 2026, the rule will take effect from the first day of Rabi al-Awwal. The cost of the food voucher, valued at about 20 Saudi riyals per day, will be directly included in the total Umrah visa fee.

Under the new system, hotel bookings, transport, food and other services for Umrah pilgrims will be managed through an integrated digital platform. Around 10,000 restaurants in Mecca and Medina have been linked to the Nusuk app as part of the initiative. Each pilgrim will receive a unique code linked to their visa, allowing them to collect meals from approved restaurants covered by the app.

The initiative is intended to ensure quality and orderly food services for pilgrims, discourage unauthorized providers and improve overall management. However, the policy is expected to raise the overall cost of Umrah packages to some extent. Travel agencies in Pakistan and other affected countries have already begun reviewing their Umrah packages and pricing in response to the planned change.

Saudi Arabia’s Deputy Minister of Human Resources, Muhannad bin Ahmed Al-Issa, said Bangladeshi workers can renew their iqama under another employer if their original employer or sponsor does not renew it. The announcement was made during a bilateral meeting on Tuesday with Bangladesh’s Expatriates’ Welfare and Overseas Employment Minister Ariful Haque Chowdhury, according to a report published on August 4, 2026.

Al-Issa said workers would be able to renew their iqama promptly under another employer or sponsor in such circumstances, without legal obstacles. Saudi Deputy Minister of Foreign Consular Dr. Mohammed A. M. Alshamri was also among the Saudi delegation at the meeting.

Bangladesh proposed formal reviews and renewals of three domestic worker recruitment agreements, a Skills Verification Program agreement, and a general worker recruitment agreement. It also called for meetings of a joint commission and joint technical committee, and proposed a Saudi-Bangladesh joint technical training institute in Bangladesh. Bangladeshi officials urged increased recruitment of skilled workers ahead of the 2034 World Cup in Saudi Arabia, protections for female domestic workers, and clemency for Bangladeshi workers held in Saudi detention facilities during Ramadan and Eid.

Saudi Arabia’s state oil company Saudi Aramco reported a 44% rise in profit in the second quarter of the year despite instability in the Strait of Hormuz and Bab al-Mandab. In the three months from April to June, Aramco recorded net profit of $32.69 billion, according to information published on August 4. Higher prices for crude oil, refined fuels and chemical products played a major role in the profit increase.

Saudi Arabia’s oil-sector activity, however, declined during the same period. Official statistics showed the country’s oil-sector activity fell 24.7% in the second quarter compared with the same period a year earlier. As a result, Saudi Arabia’s real gross domestic product declined 4.8% in the second quarter.

The profit disclosure came as oil production and transport were being disrupted after Iran closed the Strait of Hormuz and energy infrastructure in the Gulf region was attacked. Yemen’s Houthi group also declared a blockade against Saudi Arabia in Bab al-Mandab, creating limits on use of the Saudi east-west pipeline extending to the Red Sea. Instability along both waterways has added pressure to global energy supplies.

Saudi Arabia has announced a new multinational maritime defense alliance that includes Bangladesh and 13 other countries, aimed at safeguarding freedom of navigation in the Bab al-Mandab Strait, the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden. The Saudi Defense Ministry announced the Multinational Maritime Defense Alliance on July 30, saying it would strengthen joint maritime defense cooperation and protect key routes for international trade and energy supplies.

Other members are Turkey, Kuwait, Bahrain, Qatar, Jordan, Egypt, Pakistan, Djibouti, Somalia, Yemen, Sudan and Comoros. Representatives from 43 of 51 invited countries attended the alliance-forming meeting, alongside a European Union delegation. The EU already operates its Aspides maritime-security mission in the Red Sea, but the source said it remains unclear how the Saudi-led alliance’s activities will differ.

The alliance will exchange intelligence, develop joint plans, conduct coordinated exercises and undertake maritime operations. Saudi Arabia did not immediately disclose how many warships or aircraft members would contribute. It said the alliance is entirely defensive and not directed at any specific state. Its headquarters will be in Saudi Arabia, at an undisclosed location, while countries may join later after completing required national legal or administrative procedures.

Saudi Arabia has been drawn into a difficult strategic dilemma amid the Iran war after trying to remain outside the conflict that began when the United States and Israel launched military operations against Iran on February 28. Following recent drone attacks, Riyadh jointly struck Iran-backed Iraqi militias with the United States. The report says Saudi Arabia is now facing attacks from three directions and must decide whether to build deterrence through retaliation or pursue diplomacy to reduce tensions.

The conflict pits Iran, the IRGC, Yemen’s Houthi rebels, Iraq’s Popular Mobilization Forces and Lebanon’s Hezbollah against a US-led coalition supported in various ways by several Gulf Arab states and Jordan. Saudi Arabia does not want direct involvement, as a prolonged war could jeopardize Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman’s Vision 2030 plan to reduce reliance on oil and attract foreign investment.

After Iran obstructed movement through the Strait of Hormuz, Saudi Arabia began exporting oil via the Red Sea. Houthi attacks on Saudi airports and Red Sea shipping, described as a response to Saudi strikes in Yemen, have also put oil transport through the Bab al-Mandab Strait at risk. Despite seven years of war against the Houthis, Saudi Arabia did not defeat them, and faces renewed threats from the south and Iraqi-based militias in the north.

Saudi Arabia has faced missile attacks by Yemen’s Houthi rebels, drone attacks by Iran-backed Iraqi Shiite militias and renewed threats from Tehran over the past week. In response, Saudi warplanes joined the United States in pre-dawn airstrikes on multiple militia targets in eastern Iraq on Tuesday. The Saudi Defence Ministry said Riyadh did not seek to complicate the situation or escalate conflict, but would not hesitate to respond appropriately to aggression.

The Houthis recently struck two Saudi oil facilities on the Red Sea coast, causing extensive damage at a site near Jazan, according to the report. They also attacked two tankers in an effort to obstruct Saudi shipping through the Bab al-Mandab Strait. With the Strait of Hormuz disrupted after the Iran conflict, Saudi Arabia has been forced to increase oil exports through Red Sea ports such as Yanbu, leaving 75 percent of its exports exposed to Houthi attacks.

The PMF militia alliance claimed that at least 20 people were killed and many wounded in the joint strikes. US Central Command said the operation responded to more than 30 drone attacks launched from IRGC-controlled areas against US forces deployed in Saudi Arabia. Analysts warned that a wider conflict would be costly and risky for Riyadh, which is facing its largest budget deficit since 2018 in the first three quarters of this year.

Satellite images have shown signs of major damage at important Saudi oil facilities after Yemeni missile and drone attacks, according to the report. Images taken on Monday showed burn marks around a circular storage tank at Saudi Aramco’s Yanbu Bulk Plant on the Red Sea coast. The marks were described as indicating that the facility was damaged in the recent attacks.

The report also identified more severe signs of damage at the Alhamrani-Fuchs Blending and Grease Plant in Yanbu Industrial City. Satellite imagery showed clear fire marks across a large part of the facility. The images were presented as visible evidence of the impact on Saudi oil and industrial installations.

The images emerged after Brigadier General Yahya Saree, spokesperson for Yemen’s resistance group, announced two major military operations in Saudi Arabia. He described the attacks as a response to what he called Saudi Arabia’s “blatant and criminal aggression.” According to Saree, the first operation targeted various facilities in Saudi Arabia’s Jizan region using several ballistic missiles and drones.

Britain’s new prime minister, Andy Burnham, condemned continuing Houthi rebel attacks in the Red Sea and threats to freedom of international navigation during a telephone call with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman. The information was confirmed through the Saudi Press Agency, according to a report published on July 27, 2026.

Burnham reiterated the United Kingdom’s full support for Saudi Arabia’s security, sovereignty and protection. The report described the Houthi attacks as a threat to the freedom of international maritime navigation in the Red Sea. It did not provide details of any specific attack, damage, casualties or vessels involved.

The two leaders also held detailed discussions on a range of recent regional and international issues. According to the Saudi Press Agency account cited in the report, condemnation of the attacks and British support for Saudi security were key elements of the call. No new measures, agreements or timetable resulting from the discussion were mentioned in the report.

Saudi Arabia detained 14,970 migrants accused of violating laws during nationwide operations conducted from July 16 to 22, according to the Interior Ministry. The weeklong campaign targeted violations of residency, border-security and labor regulations across the country.

Among those detained, 7,437 were accused of violating residency laws, 3,991 of breaching border-security laws and 3,542 of labor-law violations. Authorities also detained 1,626 people while they were allegedly entering Saudi Arabia illegally, most of whom were Ethiopian and Yemeni nationals. Another 33 people were caught while allegedly attempting to leave the country illegally.

Authorities arrested 18 people on accusations of assisting or sheltering law violators. Legal proceedings are under way against more than 30,000 offenders, while more than 13,000 people have been repatriated to their home countries. Saudi authorities warned that assisting illegal migrants can carry penalties of up to 15 years in prison and fines of up to 1 million Saudi riyals, and urged the public to confidentially report such offenses to police.