Thousands of Bangladeshi Passengers Left in Limbo as Saudi Airport Attacks Halt Flights from Dhaka
Around 50–60 flights were cancelled or delayed after strikes hit Riyadh and other Saudi airports, affecting workers, families and a vital remittance corridor.
A series of attacks on Saudi Arabian airports has triggered widespread cancellations of flights originating from Bangladesh, stranding thousands of travelers and exposing the vulnerability of a critical migration and remittance corridor. The disruption, which intensified after strikes hit King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh and other facilities, has forced airlines to suspend or postpone services on multiple routes linking Dhaka with Saudi cities.
According to updates from Bangladesh's civil aviation authorities and airport management, between roughly fifty and sixty flights—both direct services and those involving transit through other hubs—were cancelled or delayed in the days immediately following the attacks. Carriers affected include the national flag carrier Biman Bangladesh Airlines as well as private operators and foreign airlines that regularly ferry passengers between the two countries. Many of the grounded flights were scheduled to carry workers departing for employment in Saudi Arabia, the single largest destination for Bangladeshi overseas labor.
Passenger numbers affected have climbed into the several thousands, with some assessments placing the figure above eight thousand people unable to leave Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport. At the terminal, groups of workers and their families have waited for clarity on refunds, rebookings, and the status of their visas and job contracts. For many, the uncertainty carries immediate financial consequences: delayed departures can mean lost wages, expired medical clearances, or complications with recruitment agencies that had already arranged placements.
The human cost of the attacks has been felt directly in Bangladesh. Reports indicate that two Bangladeshi nationals were among those killed at the Riyadh airport, while around two dozen more sustained injuries and required hospital treatment. These casualties prompted official statements from Dhaka condemning the strikes and calling for an end to such attacks. Bangladesh's embassy in Riyadh has also circulated advice to citizens already present in the kingdom, urging them to remain alert, comply with local security directives, and limit non-essential movement until conditions stabilize.
Beyond the immediate travel chaos, the episode highlights the economic stakes involved. Saudi Arabia hosts a large Bangladeshi workforce, and remittances from the kingdom form a substantial share of the foreign-exchange inflows that support household incomes and the broader economy. Prolonged suspension of flights risks interrupting both the return of existing workers and the outflow of new recruits. At a time when Bangladesh is already contending with softer growth forecasts and external economic pressures, any sustained interruption in this corridor adds another layer of strain.
Airlines have responded with temporary operational pauses. Biman, for instance, has indicated that its Dhaka–Riyadh services will remain suspended at least into the middle of the month, while other carriers have announced similar holds pending confirmation that Saudi airports can safely resume full operations. Aviation officials in Dhaka continue to coordinate with airline partners and monitor announcements from Saudi authorities. They have advised affected passengers to stay in regular contact with their respective carriers for the latest information on rescheduling and compensation.
For the stranded travelers, the practical questions remain pressing: how long the airport closures will last, whether alternative routing through other countries is feasible, and what safeguards exist for those whose employment contracts carry strict start dates.
Recruitment agencies and labor-welfare officials have begun fielding inquiries, though concrete solutions depend largely on the restoration of normal air traffic. In the meantime, the situation serves as a reminder of how quickly regional security incidents can ripple outward, affecting ordinary workers and families thousands of miles from the site of the attacks. Authorities on both sides have expressed hope that the disruption will prove temporary, but no firm timeline for a full resumption of services has yet been confirmed.