Flight disruption puts BD expat jobs at risk

With their holidays at home over and jobs awaiting them in Saudi Arabia, thousands of Bangladeshi expatriates are facing uncertainty as flight disruptions following repeated attacks on Riyadh leave them stranded in Bangladesh.

For many, the delay is more than a travel problem. Expiring visas and the end of approved leave have raised fears of trouble at work, lost earnings and mounting pressure on families who depend on remittances.

According to the latest Civil Aviation Authority of Bangladesh (CAAB) data released on Monday, restrictions on flight operations at King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh disrupted 51 flights involving Bangladesh over two days, affecting 5,418 passengers.

Of the disrupted flights, 12 were direct services between Bangladesh and Saudi Arabia, while 39 were transit flights through other destinations. The affected passengers included expatriate workers returning to their jobs, Umrah pilgrims and travellers coming back to Bangladesh.

Kamal Hossain, a Riyadh-bound passenger, said his leave would end on Tuesday and his visa had only three days remaining.

“I have to reach Saudi Arabia somehow before my leave ends. Otherwise, I could face problems at my job,” he said.

Another passenger said his Saudi visa would expire on October 14, leaving him worried that continued cancellations could prevent him from reaching the country in time.

The disruption has also caused repeated journeys to Dhaka airport without a confirmed departure. Tarek Monwar, who travelled eight to 10 hours from Sylhet, said his Saudia Airlines flights scheduled for the nights of October 9 and October 10 had both been cancelled.

“I have come to the airport three times and returned home three times. I am not receiving any updates from the airport,” he said, expressing uncertainty over when he would be able to travel.

At Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport, passengers complained of inadequate information and uncertainty over revised schedules. Some were also struggling to secure alternative tickets.

Biman Bangladesh Airlines has begun arranging alternative travel for Riyadh-bound passengers through Madinah, from where they can continue to their destinations by road.

At Biman's ticket sales counter at its headquarters, Balaka, passengers crowded the premises on Monday to secure alternative tickets. Officials said priority was being given to those whose visas were nearing expiry and passengers scheduled to travel on Monday's Riyadh-bound flights.

The airline has also arranged for passengers on cancelled flights to have their tickets reissued without cancellation fees, subject to availability and revised travel arrangements.

Meanwhile, Civil Aviation and Tourism Minister M Rashiduzzaman Millat said airlines had been instructed to minimise passenger suffering, inform travellers of schedule changes in advance and help those already at airports.

Passengers have been advised to contact their airlines before leaving for the airport to check the latest flight status. With the duration of the disruption still uncertain, many expatriates remain anxious about when they can return to work, while their families at home wait for news of their journeys.

Diplomatic Correspondent adds: Foreign Ministry on Monday published a list of 24 Bangladeshis injured in a Houthi attack on the Saudi capital’s airport on Saturday.

Two Bangladeshis and 10 people from six other countries were killed in the incident.

In a release, the Foreign Ministry also said that among the injured Bangladeshis, 11 are workers and 13 are Umrah visa holders.

They are now undergoing treatment at different hospitals in Riyadh.

Two Bangladeshis are undergoing treatment at Riyadh National Guard Hospital. They are - Saffat Rahman Raninagar of Naogaon and Md Daudul Islam from Nangalkot in Cumilla. These two arrived in Saudi Arabia on Umrah visas.

Md Abdullah from Demra in Dhaka is undergoing treatment at Prince Sultan Military Hospital. He also went to Saudi Arabia on an Umrah visa.

Three Bangladeshis are undergoing treatment at Sulaiman Alhabib, Takhassusi Branch Hospital. They are - Arman Hossain from Kamrangirchar in Dhaka, on Umrah visa, Mohammad Iqamah, a Bangladeshi worker, and Faisal Ahmed Abdul Haque, another Bangladeshi worker.

Md Rafiq Mia, a Bangladeshi worker, is undergoing treatment at Kingdom Hospital.

Three Bangladeshis are undergoing treatment at King Fahd Medical City Hospital - Ismail Hossain, Md Misbah Uddin Hirak and Md Raihanul Islam. They all are Bangladeshi workers.

Five Bangladeshis are undergoing treatment at Prince Mohammad Bin Abdul Aziz Hospital. They are - Salma Akhtar, Md Shahadat Hossain, Mosahid Ahmed Saikat, Zahid Ahmed, and Sobhe Sadek Md Shahjahan Sarkar. They all are Bangladeshi workers.

Two Bangladeshis are undergoing treatment at Aster Sanad Hospital. They are - Md. Asadul Islam and Md Jamal.

One Bangladeshi, Najma Akhter, is undergoing treatment at Sulaiman Fakih Hospital.

Two Bangladeshis are undergoing treatment at Sulaiman Alhabib, Al-Sahafa Branch Hospital. They are Umayr and Abdullah Kamil.

Currently, three Bangladeshis are undergoing treatment in the ICU of King Abdullah Hospital in Riyadh. They are - Hafez Hasan from Kamrangirchar in Dhaka, Kazi Nurullah from Brahmanbaria Sadar, and Md Omar Farooq, a Saudi expatriate Bangladeshi worker.

Meanwhile, Bangladesh will stand by Saudi Arabia if any threat arises to Makkah and Madinah, State Minister for Foreign Affairs Shama Obaid Islam said on Monday, adding that emotion, alongside Dhaka’s diplomatic position, is involved in the question of security of the two holy cities.

She made the remarks while talking to journalists after attending a seminar titled “Bangladesh’s Foreign Policy: A Roadmap for Direction in a Changing World”, organised by Bangladesh Institute of International and Strategic Studies (BIISS) in Dhaka.

Asked about Bangladesh joining the Makkah Pact and the possibility of sending troops there, Shama Obaid said Bangladesh has not yet formally joined the agreement. “So the question of sending troops there does not arise at this moment,” she said.

On the ongoing situation in Saudi Arabia, she said Bangladesh has expressed solidarity with the Saudi government and its people. Bangladesh wants an immediate end to the conflict, she said, adding that the Prime Minister has also written a letter to the Saudi Crown Prince in this regard.

“There is emotion among the people of Bangladesh regarding these two holy cities. If any threat is created there, Bangladesh will not sit idle and will come forward to provide necessary assistance,” Shama Obaid said.

The state minister said two Bangladeshis have so far been killed. More than 24 Bangladeshis are undergoing treatment at various hospitals in Riyadh, and several of them are in intensive care units (ICUs).
Regarding the ongoing protest situation in India, Shama Obaid said, “Bangladesh has no assessment on this at the moment. It is India’s internal matter. India will handle it.”

In reply to a question about energy supply, she said, “We hope there will be no problem in the preparations or plans taken by the Energy Ministry. If there is any problem due to this war, it will not be specific to Bangladesh. The whole world will suffer from this problem and face inconvenience. We will address it then. At this moment, we do not see that inconvenience.” 

UNB adds: The Bangladesh Embassy in Riyadh has urged Bangladeshi nationals living in Saudi Arabia to remain vigilant, comply with local laws and follow instructions issued by the Saudi authorities amid the ongoing situation in the Middle East.

In an emergency notice issued on Monday, it advised Bangladeshis to avoid risky and crowded places and to prioritise their personal safety amid the evolving situation.

The embassy also warned that recording, exchanging or publishing information, photographs or videos related to the ongoing situation in the Middle East on social media is a punishable offence under Saudi law.

It urged Bangladeshi nationals to respect Saudi laws and refrain from posting such photographs, videos or sensitive information on social media platforms, including Facebook, YouTube and X.

The embassy also advised them not to store such photographs, videos or sensitive information on their mobile phones or share them with others.

The notice provided several hotline numbers for Bangladeshis seeking assistance in emergencies.

For matters related to deaths, the hotline number is +966570212180.

The embassy also shared its verified Facebook page for updates and information: https://www.facebook.com/bdembassyriyadh.