Travel havoc hits hundreds at Dhaka
Staff Reporter :
The escalating conflict in the Middle East has sent shockwaves through Bangladesh’s aviation sector, leaving thousands of migrant workers and travelers stranded in a state of deep uncertainty.
As of noon on Sunday, a total of 54 flights scheduled between Dhaka and various Middle Eastern destinations were cancelled, following the abrupt closure of regional airspace triggered by US and Israeli attacks on Iran.
The Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport (HSIA), typically a bustling gateway for the country’s expatriate workforce, has been transformed into a site of “distress” and “uncertainty”.
While flights to Europe and other global regions continue to operate according to schedule, the vital corridor to the Middle East, the primary destination for millions of Bangladeshi laborers, has been effectively severed.
The disruption stems from a wave of “tit-for-tat strikes” between the United States and Iran, which forced several nations, including Bahrain, Kuwait, the United Arab Emirates (UAE), and Qatar, to temporarily shutter their flight information regions for security reasons.
Group Captain SM Ragib Samad, Executive Director of HSIA, confirmed the staggering number of cancellations, noting that the situation evolved rapidly between Saturday and Sunday afternoon.
The suspension is not limited to the capital Dhaka only. In Chattogram, the Shah Amanat International Airport reported a complete halt of Middle East-bound traffic on Sunday.
Airport authorities there cited the temporary closure of airfields and “ongoing war situations” as the primary drivers for the suspension of ten international flights, including arrivals and departures from carriers like Salam Air.
For many passengers, the cancellations represent more than a mere travel delay; they are a threat to their livelihoods.
The airport terminals have become makeshift camps for workers whose visas are ticking toward expiration.
Md Sagar, a passenger from Cumilla who was bound for Oman, shared his desperation after his Saturday flight was grounded.
“My visa is valid for only six more days,” Sagar said. “If I cannot travel within this time, I will no longer be able to go to Oman,” he rued.
His story is echoed by hundreds of others, such as Rakibul Hasan, a Saudi Arabia-bound passenger who waited nearly ten hours at the airport only to face uncertainty about his transit through New Delhi.
Mohammad Samir Uddin, heading to Dubai, described a void of information, stating he arrived at the airport due to confusion over his flight status and found no clear details from officials.
A brewing controversy has emerged regarding the welfare of these stranded citizens.
While the government maintains that it is providing comprehensive assistance, many passengers tell a different story.
During a visit to the airport, Expatriate Welfare, Labour and Employment Affairs Minister Ariful Haque Chowdhury dismissed reports of neglect as “unfounded”.
He asserted that the government is monitoring the situation “round the clock” and had already provided food and accommodation to 53 individuals. Furthermore, a dedicated hotline has been established for passengers seeking aid.
However, multiple travelers reported they had received no such facilities. Despite the minister’s claims, passengers like Sagar alleged they were left to fend for themselves without the promised meals or lodging.
In an attempt to bridge this gap, the Probashi Kalyan Center near the airport has reportedly opened its doors, providing shelter for approximately 200 to 250 people.
As regional conditions shift hour by hour, airlines are cautiously resuming selected routes while suspending others.
Biman Bangladesh Airlines announced it would operate two priority flights Sunday evening: Dhaka-Madinah (BG-337) and Dhaka-Jeddah (BG-335).
US-Bangla Airlines said its services to Riyadh, Jeddah and Muscat would proceed as scheduled from Sunday. However, it has temporarily suspended operations to Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Sharjah and Doha until further notice.
The Civil Aviation Authority of Bangladesh (CAAB) has instructed airlines to keep passengers informed via email, phone calls, or SMS.
For now, however, the departure lounges of HSIA remain uncharacteristically thin for Middle Eastern routes, even as the “uncertainty” grows.
Despite limited resumptions, uncertainty remains the defining reality. Departure lounges serving Gulf routes remain thinly populated, a stark contrast to their usual congestion.
Officials say flights will resume gradually once regional airspace is deemed safe. But there is no definitive timeline.
For thousands of Bangladeshi workers whose livelihoods depend on uninterrupted mobility to the Gulf, the conflict feels anything but distant.
As diplomatic tensions escalate far beyond their control, they wait, documents in hand, deadlines approaching, hoping the skies reopen before opportunity slips away.
