The escalating conflict in the Middle East is triggering growing anxiety among families of Bangladeshi expatriates in Chattogram while disrupting international flight operations, with at least 50 flights cancelled at Shah Amanat International Airport in the past six days.
Families in migrant-dependent upazilas such as Sandwip, Mirsharai, Sitakunda, Raozan and Banshkhali say they are living in fear as tensions involving Iran, Israel and the United States intensify.
Thousands of workers from these areas are employed in Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Kuwait, Qatar, Oman and Bahrain, mainly in construction, shipyards, the oil and gas sector and service industries, and they remain the primary earners for their families back home.
Abul Kalam Azad, a resident of Sandwip whose three family members work in Saudi Arabia, said the news has left him deeply worried. “I watch the news every day and remain anxious. I just pray that nothing happens to them,” he said.
Lipi Akter, a homemaker from the Chhotokomoldoh area of Mirsharai, said her husband works at a construction company in Oman. “I have not been able to sleep properly for the past few days. Whenever I see news of the war on television, my heart starts racing,” she said. “I keep praying to Allah that everyone stays safe.”
Airport authorities said the regional conflict has also begun to affect air travel from Chattogram.
Public Relations Officer of Shah Amanat International Airport Ibrahim Khalil said on Thursday that four outbound flights – two each operated by Biman Bangladesh Airlines and Air Arabia – had been cancelled that morning.
“In the past six days, a total of 50 inbound and outbound flights have been cancelled,” he said, adding that services to destinations including Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Sharjah and Doha had been affected.
Airport officials said several countries in the Middle East have closed their airspace due to the conflict, forcing airlines to cancel or adjust flight schedules.
Meanwhile, the Ministry of Expatriates’ Welfare and Overseas Employment has opened a 24-hour emergency call centre and urged Bangladeshi citizens in the Middle East facing security risks to contact the hotline at +8809610102030.
The ministry has also advised expatriates to remain in regular contact with Bangladesh embassies in their respective countries.
The renewed hostilities began after the United States and Israel launched attacks on Iran on Saturday, prompting retaliatory strikes by Iran targeting US bases in several Middle Eastern countries.
Amid the growing uncertainty, families in Chattogram’s expatriate-heavy communities say they are anxiously waiting and praying for the safety of their loved ones abroad.
