Mashrakha Jahan Mona

The recent escalation of conflict in the Middle East following joint US-Israeli strikes on Iran and subsequent Houthi missile attacks in Saudi Arabia has put approximately 80 lakh Bangladeshi expatriates across the region in severe vulnerability, raising serious concerns over remittances, overseas employment, and energy security.

The unrest has severely disrupted air connectivity. According to the Civil Aviation Authority of Bangladesh (CAAB), 89 flights (39 direct and 50 transit flights) from Dhaka to Saudi Arabia have been cancelled or suspended over the past few days, leaving at least 14,655 migrant workers, Umrah pilgrims, and general passengers stranded. Biman Bangladesh Airlines has suspended all flights to Riyadh and Damman until October 17, while US-Bangla Airlines has halted Dhaka-Riyadh operations through October 21. Saudia, Riyadh Air, and major transit carriers like IndiGo, Emirates, and Qatar Airways are also experiencing massive operational delays. Aviation experts warn that prolonged flight suspensions risk workers losing their jobs due to delayed arrivals, alongside mounting financial pressures from visa expirations, rebooking costs, and debt burdens incurred for overseas travel. Reports indicate that two Bangladeshis were killed and 27 others injured following a missile strike near the Riyadh airport. While some injured individuals have been discharged after primary treatment, others remain hospitalized under critical care.

The Bangladesh Embassy in Riyadh has advised expatriates to exercise extreme caution, avoid crowded and high-risk zones, and strictly adhere to local laws, including restrictions on sharing conflict-related media online.

With roughly 80 lakh Bangladeshi nationals working across Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) nations—including Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Kuwait, Oman, and Bahrain—the ongoing crisis threatens a vital pillar of Bangladesh's economy. World Bank and Bangladesh Bank data highlight that the Middle East accounts for the vast majority of Bangladesh's annual remittances, bringing in between $10 to $12 billion annually (approx. BDT 1.2 to 1.4 trillion).

In the 2025–26 fiscal year alone, remittances from Saudi Arabia exceeded $5 billion (BDT 40,000 to 45,000 crore). According to the Bureau of Manpower, Employment and Training (BMET), Saudi Arabia remains Bangladesh’s largest labor market, having approved 32,915 workers in September alone. Experts warn that if the conflict drags on, both new recruitment and existing employment security will plummet, straining foreign exchange reserves and rural household economies.

Bangladesh depends on imports for roughly 95% of its total energy requirements, with a massive share originating from the Middle East. The state-owned Eastern Refinery relies entirely on imported crude, importing around 700,000 to 800,000 tons of "Arabian Light" crude annually from Saudi Arabia, alongside another 600,000 to 700,000 tons from the UAE. To meet domestic power and industrial gas demands, Bangladesh procures about 64% of its total liquefied natural gas (LNG) imports from Qatar under long-term agreements, alongside substantial LPG imports from the region. Prolonged hostilities threaten to destabilize supply chains, escalating import costs and creating domestic energy pressures.

State Minister for Foreign Affairs Shama Obaid Islam acknowledged that the Middle Eastern conflict could adversely affect remittance inflows, noting that the government is actively exploring alternative labor markets and formulating rehabilitation plans for returning workers.

Expatriate Welfare and Overseas Employment State Minister Nurul Haque noted that despite the sudden onset of regional hostilities, nearly 350,000 workers have been deployed to the Middle East since the government assumed office, while efforts to diversify overseas employment destinations are underway.

Shariful Hasan, Associate Director of BRAC's Migration and Youth Platform, emphasized that prolonged instability will diminish labor demand and threaten foreign investments in the region, urging immediate, high-level diplomatic engagement between Dhaka and Riyadh.

International relations experts, including Prof. Dr. Nazrul Islam of Shahjalal University of Science and Technology, stressed that protecting national interests requires proactive multi-pronged planning—safeguarding expatriates, securing fuel imports, and mitigating long-term macroeconomic shocks.

Former senior diplomat Sakib Ali echoed the sentiment, calling for strategic pragmatism to insulate Bangladesh’s foreign policy and economic stability from widening regiCorres