More than 50 lakh Bangladeshis working in Middle Eastern countries face growing uncertainty as the US–Israel war with Iran enters its third week with no clear endgame.
The conflict has already triggered disruptions in global energy markets and raised fears that Iran’s retaliatory strikes could draw more countries in the region into the confrontation.
The ripple effects of the war are being felt across Asia and beyond. For Bangladesh, the stakes are particularly high. The country depends heavily on the Gulf region both for its energy supplies and for remittances sent by millions of Bangladeshi migrant workers.
Analysts warn that if the conflict intensifies or drags on, Bangladesh could face a “double shock” — rising energy costs alongside a potential decline in remittance inflows. At the moment the impact is still at an early stage, but if the war continues for a prolonged period, it could hit Bangladesh hard in both the energy and remittance sectors.
Remittances are a key pillar of Bangladesh’s economy, supporting millions of households and contributing significantly to foreign currency reserves. A prolonged conflict that disrupts employment in the Gulf could weaken this financial lifeline.
Bangladeshi workers across the Gulf
The Gulf region – including Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates – hosts around 35 million foreign workers from different parts of the world, most of them from South Asia. Among them, more than five million are Bangladeshi nationals.
These migrant workers play a critical role in Bangladesh’s economy. Each worker typically supports four to five family members back home, meaning roughly 20 million Bangladeshis depend directly on income earned in the Gulf.
However, the escalation of hostilities in the region has created anxiety among both workers and their families.
Many Bangladeshi workers are employed in sectors linked to oil, gas, construction and services. Some energy facilities and related businesses have slowed or temporarily halted operations amid the conflict and security concerns.
Workers fear that if the war continues or spreads, companies may reduce operations or cut jobs.
In addition to employment concerns, the physical safety of migrant workers has also become an issue as Iranian missile strikes have targeted several locations in the region.
So far, two Bangladeshi nationals have reportedly been killed in missile attacks in Bahrain and the United Arab Emirates, while several others have been injured.
According to official figures, about 2.6 million Bangladeshis work in Saudi Arabia, around 350,000 in Kuwait, 400,000 in Qatar, 700,000 in Oman, 840,000 in the UAE and approximately 110,000 in Bahrain.
Growing anxiety among workers
The escalating conflict has shaken the confidence of many Bangladeshi workers who rely on stable employment in the Gulf to support their families.
Some workers have already begun experiencing difficulties in finding daily work, particularly those employed in informal or day-based labour markets.
Bangladesh’s ambassador to Bahrain, Md Rais Hasan Sarower, said the situation remains uncertain and could worsen if the conflict persists.
“The situation is still very fluid,” he said. “Production in parts of the region has already declined due to the conflict.”
He warned that prolonged instability could eventually affect employment prospects for migrant workers.
“At present, daily wage workers are facing difficulties because they cannot find work regularly,” the ambassador said. “If the war continues for a long time, even workers with permanent jobs could face layoffs and might have to return to Bangladesh.”
