The Middle East war: We must prepare for the crisis

THE United States-Israeli attacks on Iran and the counterattacks by Iran on US bases across the Middle East are gradually taking the form of a regional war.

There are fears that Gulf States, especially Bahrain, the Emirates and Qatar, will soon be drawn into the conflict.

Three European powers, the UK, France and Germany, have also threatened to join the war against Iran.

As a result, there is no prospect of this war ending anytime soon. But the damage is increasing every day. The number of casualties is increasing too.

There are fears of a major disaster in the global economy. Its ripple effects will also affect the Bangladesh’s economy. In the meantime, the price of fuel oil has increased by about $10 per barrel. It is currently being sold for $80.

Energy experts estimate that if the war continues, the price of fuel oil per barrel will increase by about $100 in a few weeks.

The closure of the Strait of Hormuz could significantly reduce the flow of oil from some Middle Eastern countries to East and South Asia.

Even if it is brought through a roundabout route, the import cost will increase significantly. As a result, the price of fuel oil will also increase in Bangladesh.

Again, our liquefied natural gas also comes mainly from the Middle East. If LNG supply is disrupted, the country could experience a severe gas crisis.

Bangladesh’s labour market is largely Middle Eastern-centric. 67 percent of our total migrants go to Saudi Arabia.

Qatar is in second place, Kuwait in fourth, and the United Arab Emirates in sixth.

But our labor market is at great risk due to the war situation in the Middle East.

Around 6 million Bangladeshi expatriates in the Middle East are living in extreme uncertainty and fear.

One Bangladeshi expatriate has already been killed in the UAE and one in Bahrain.

With airspace in the Middle East closed or limited, many are unable to return on time for emergencies or after vacations.

New complications have arisen as some people’s visas are about to expire.

It is feared that if the war becomes permanent, it could have a negative impact on our remittances.

The suddenly attacking Iran and killing many top leaders, including Supreme Leader Khamenei, was not desirable.

In this situation, we believe that the threat of countries like France, the United Kingdom, and Germany getting involved in war will truly threaten world civilization.

We want the problem to be resolved through dialogue, not war.