Nearly 3,000 passengers have been left stranded in Dhaka following the sudden suspension of flights to Riyadh, leaving many uncertain as to when they will be able to return to Saudi Arabia and others fearing for their livelihoods as their leave expires.
The disruption has forced desperate travellers to scramble for alternative arrangements, with crowds packing airline sales counters and travel agencies across the capital.
Many had travelled to Dhaka from rural districts, only to discover upon arrival that their flights had been grounded.
The Civil Aviation Authority of Bangladesh (Caab) estimates that 2,951 passengers are currently stranded in Dhaka following the cancellations, a figure expected to rise as the deadlock continues.
Simultaneously, hundreds of Bangladeshi workers in Riyadh who had taken leave to visit home have been unable to travel, while those stuck in Dhaka face growing anxiety over their employment status.
The operational breakdown follows an attack by Yemen’s Houthi rebels on King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh on Saturday.
At least eight scheduled flights have been cancelled so far, including two operated by Biman Bangladesh Airlines, three by Saudia, two by Riyadh Air, and one by US-Bangla Airlines.
For the majority of stranded migrant workers, the immediate concern extends far beyond a missed flight, threatening their jobs and legal residency status.
Shafikur Rahman, a Riyadh-based expatriate, explained that his iqama (Saudi residence permit) was nearing expiry, and he feared severe legal and financial repercussions if he failed to return imminently.
“The flight cancellation is understandable given the security situation, but we have been given no assurance whatsoever about when we can travel,” he said.
Similarly, a Riyadh-bound worker from Cumilla who has lived in Saudi Arabia for three years disclosed that his iqama had only a few days of validity remaining. He discovered his flight had been cancelled only after arriving at the airport on Sunday.
If he is unable to return to Saudi Arabia immediately, he faces the daunting prospect of applying for an entirely new visa, a process he described as extraordinarily difficult. Exhausted and stranded in the terminal, he remained entirely in the dark about when he would be able to travel or whether he will receive a refund for his ticket.
The crisis began unfolding on Saturday evening when Biman announced the suspension of its Riyadh services at approximately 9:30pm.
By that time, hundreds of travellers had already checked in or arrived at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport. The last-minute announcement triggered severe hardship, particularly for passengers who had journeyed from outside Dhaka and were left stranded overnight without accommodation.
Since the grounding, passengers have flooded ticket counters and travel agencies hoping to rebook or secure seats on alternative routes.
However, confusion persists over when regular operations will recommence.
Authorities at King Khalid International Airport have extended the operational suspension until 3am Bangladesh time today.
Consequently, Biman’s scheduled Monday flights, BG339 and BG340, have also been cancelled.
Meanwhile, Houthi forces have issued warnings that airports across Saudi Arabia, with the exception of those serving Makkah and Madinah, could face further targeted attacks.
In a formal statement, Biman’s public relations department indicated that an updated flight schedule would be released at noon today.
Although the flag carrier also operates regular services to Jeddah, Madinah, and Dammam, it has yet to arrange re-routing options through those destinations for stranded Riyadh-bound passengers.
Speaking to TIMES, Biman General Manager of Public Relations Mohiuddin Ahmed acknowledged that the airline’s operational flexibility was severely constrained. “A war-like situation has developed in Saudi Arabia. Under these circumstances, our alternatives are extremely limited, and re-routing passengers to Saudi Arabia via secondary hubs is no easy task,” he said.
He advised passengers requiring urgent travel to liaise directly with Biman’s central sales offices.
Biman currently operates seven weekly flights between Dhaka and Riyadh. Saudia and Riyadh Air also operate seven weekly services each, while US-Bangla Airlines runs six. Kuwaiti carrier Jazeera Airways additionally connects Dhaka to Riyadh via Kuwait City.
For thousands of overseas workers whose employment contracts, leave approvals, and residency permits depend on a timely return to the Gulf, the absence of a confirmed timeline for resuming flights continues to fuel deep despair.
