Dhaka seeks safe travel, consular support and protection of migrant workers amid regional tensions

MM Rahmatullah: The Saudi Arabian Ambassador to Bangladesh could play a crucial role in protecting the interests of Bangladeshi migrant workers as flight disruptions linked to continuing Houthi attacks in the region leave thousands of Saudi-bound passengers stranded, raising concerns over employment, visa validity and mounting debts.

Saudi Arabia is Bangladesh’s largest overseas labour market, employing millions of Bangladeshi men and women whose hard work supports their families and contributes significantly to the country’s foreign exchange earnings. However, the suspension and disruption of flights to major Saudi destinations, particularly Riyadh, have created uncertainty for workers preparing to join new jobs and expatriates seeking to return to their workplaces after leave.

Against this backdrop, close coordination between the Saudi Embassy in Dhaka, the Bangladesh government and Saudi aviation authorities has become increasingly important to ensure the safe movement of passengers and prevent temporary travel disruptions from turning into a wider crisis for migrant workers.

The Saudi Ambassador’s engagement with the relevant authorities could help expedite alternative travel arrangements, address visa-related complications and ensure that workers do not face unnecessary employment or financial losses because of circumstances beyond their control.

The flight disruptions have affected both direct and transit services between Bangladesh and Saudi Arabia. Thousands of passengers have reportedly faced delays or cancellations, while many have been left uncertain about when they can reach their destinations.

For workers travelling to take up new jobs, every day of delay can carry serious consequences. Many have sold land, jewellery or other family assets, while others have borrowed money at high interest rates to cover recruitment, visa and travel expenses.

Failure to reach Saudi Arabia within the stipulated period could expose them to the risk of losing employment opportunities, missing joining deadlines or encountering complications involving their visas and employers.

The financial pressure is particularly severe for families that depend on borrowed money to finance overseas employment. In some cases, relatives who helped arrange loans are reportedly struggling to repay instalments and avoiding creditors.

The situation therefore extends beyond aviation disruptions. It has become a question of protecting workers` livelihoods, preserving employment opportunities and preventing vulnerable families from falling deeper into debt.

As the situation develops, the Saudi Ambassador to Bangladesh can serve as an important channel of communication between Dhaka and Riyadh.

Bangladesh needs close diplomatic engagement to obtain timely information about airport operations, flight schedules and alternative routes, as well as to seek practical solutions for workers whose visas are approaching expiry.

The two sides could consider coordinated arrangements for affected passengers, including priority travel for workers facing imminent joining deadlines, assistance with visa validity and communication with Saudi employers over delayed arrivals.

Clear guidance from the Saudi authorities would also help reduce confusion among passengers and recruitment agencies. Regular updates through the Saudi Embassy and relevant Bangladeshi agencies could prevent unnecessary airport visits, additional expenses and reliance on unverified information.

For workers already employed in Saudi Arabia but temporarily stranded in Bangladesh, communication with employers and relevant Saudi institutions would be important to ensure that travel delays do not automatically result in the loss of jobs.

Diplomatic coordination would be particularly beneficial for low-income workers, who often have limited financial resources to absorb unexpected travel costs.

Saudi Arabian Airlines, commonly known as Saudia, has taken steps to ease the difficulties of affected passengers by arranging alternative travel to Saudi Arabia through airports where operations remain possible.

According to information provided by the airline`s officials, special flights have been arranged from Dhaka to Dammam and Jeddah to help stranded passengers, including Umrah pilgrims and expatriate workers, reach their destinations. The airline has said that passengers travelling on these special flights will not have to pay additional charges.

Saudia has also been assisting some transit passengers by arranging alternative tickets on other airlines, subject to seat availability and applicable arrangements.

Mohammad Rafiqul Islam, general manager for business support at Saudia, said the airline had operated two special flights to help passengers stranded by the disruption at Riyadh airport. Further special services would be considered according to passenger demand, he added.

He said regular flights to Jeddah and Madinah were continuing, while the airline was taking steps to minimise passenger hardship during the disruption.

Saudia is among the principal carriers operating between Bangladesh and Saudi Arabia, with services connecting Dhaka to major Saudi destinations. Its alternative arrangements have offered some relief to passengers who were facing uncertainty over their travel plans.

However, the scale of the disruption means that sustained coordination among airlines, airport authorities, recruitment agencies and diplomatic missions remains essential.

Bangladesh`s Civil Aviation Authority has been monitoring the situation at Saudi airports and providing updates on flight suspensions and operational changes. Airlines have also been instructed to assist affected passengers and provide necessary refreshments and food where required.

Civil Aviation and Tourism Minister M Rashiduzzaman Millat has said the government is pursuing alternative arrangements through Saudi airports where flights can operate. He also indicated that the difficulties faced by passengers whose visas are nearing expiry and workers unable to return to their workplaces are receiving attention.

These efforts could be strengthened through regular consultations with the Saudi Embassy to identify the most urgent cases and establish clear procedures for resolving travel and immigration-related difficulties.

Bangladesh also needs to maintain communication with its mission in Riyadh and other relevant Saudi authorities to provide assistance to injured nationals and facilitate the return of the remains of citizens killed in the reported attacks.

Any confirmed security risks affecting civilian facilities should be addressed through reliable information and appropriate consular guidance, allowing expatriates to follow local safety instructions without unnecessary panic.

The economic implications of prolonged disruption are significant because Saudi Arabia remains one of the most important sources of remittances for Bangladesh.

According to figures cited in the supplied information from Bangladesh Bank, remittances from Saudi Arabia amounted to $5.85 billion in the 2025–26 fiscal year.

The country received a further $1.63 billion from Saudi-based Bangladeshis during the first three months of the 2026–27 fiscal year, including $580 million in July, $550 million in August and $500 million in September.

These figures demonstrate the importance of maintaining stable employment opportunities for Bangladeshi workers in the Kingdom.

Although temporary flight suspensions do not necessarily mean that the Saudi labour market will contract, prolonged regional instability could create difficulties if employers delay recruitment, reduce working hours or reconsider hiring plans.

Recruiters and migration experts have therefore called for precautionary measures to protect workers and sustain recruitment channels.

Saudi Arabia`s major infrastructure and development programmes continue to require foreign labour across multiple sectors. This provides grounds for cautious optimism that temporary aviation disruptions need not translate into lasting damage to Bangladesh`s employment prospects, provided the security situation does not deteriorate significantly.

Nevertheless, the duration and scale of the disruption will be important factors in determining its eventual impact.

For Bangladesh, the immediate challenge is to ensure that workers already committed to overseas employment can reach their workplaces safely and without avoidable financial losses.

For Saudi Arabia, maintaining reliable travel arrangements and effective communication with a major labour-supplying country would help protect the interests of employers and migrant workers alike.

The Saudi Ambassador`s active engagement with Bangladesh`s Foreign Ministry, civil aviation authorities and relevant labour agencies could help bridge information gaps and facilitate solutions for the most vulnerable passengers.

Both countries have a shared interest in ensuring that temporary flight disruptions do not undermine workers` confidence in the migration process or impose disproportionate costs on families that have invested heavily in overseas employment.

As thousands of passengers wait for normal services to resume, timely diplomatic coordination, practical consular assistance and flexible arrangements for affected workers will be essential.

Ultimately, protecting Bangladeshi migrant workers means safeguarding not only their jobs and financial security but also the vital economic partnership between Bangladesh and Saudi Arabia.