Fifty Umrah pilgrims from Ishwardi upazila in Pabna have been stranded in Saudi Arabia following flight disruptions caused by an attack on King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh.
The pilgrims were scheduled to return to Bangladesh on Tuesday after completing their Umrah pilgrimage. The suspension of airport operations left them stranded.
Their hotel bookings in Mecca have expired, leaving the group facing a shortage of food and accommodation. The group includes men, women, children and elderly people aged between 70 and 80. Several pilgrims have fallen ill and been admitted to hospital.
Mohammad Abu Raihan, a Moallem (pilgrimage guide) staying with the group, said they had been forced to seek new accommodation amid uncertainty over their return flights.
Sagar Sardar, a resident of Saragopalpur village in Ishwardi Municipality, travelled to Saudi Arabia with his mother, wife and two children. “There is not enough food or accommodation. We are in great trouble,” he said.
Another pilgrim, Ismail Hossain, said finding accommodation for the 50-member group, including sick and elderly passengers, had proved extremely difficult.
The disruption has affected thousands of Bangladeshi travellers. According to the Civil Aviation Authority of Bangladesh (CAAB), 86 direct and transit flights connecting Bangladesh and Saudi Arabia have been disrupted, affecting 13,490 passengers. These include 36 direct flights and 50 transit flights.
CAAB said it was monitoring the situation and working with airlines to reschedule flights. Meanwhile, Biman Bangladesh Airlines has suspended all flights from Dhaka to Dammam and Riyadh until 17 October for passenger safety.
Ishwardi Upazila Nirbahi Officer Hasan Mohammad Shoaib said local authorities were in contact with the Pabna District Administration regarding the stranded pilgrims and expressed hope that the crisis would be resolved soon.
