ISLAMABAD: Hundreds of passengers were stranded at Dhaka’s Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport after multiple airlines halted or disrupted flights to the Middle East amid a sudden regional airspace squeeze, Bangladeshi media reported on Sunday.
Services from Bangladesh to several Middle Eastern destinations were suspended from Saturday afternoon after some countries temporarily closed their airspace following US and Israeli strikes on Iran and Tehran’s retaliation.
As news of the suspensions spread, crowds, dominated by migrant workers, alongside business travellers, Umrah pilgrims, and transit passengers, began gathering at the airport, with many of them left waiting for hours with limited clarity on next steps.
Airport authorities said Bahrain, Kuwait, Dubai, and Qatar were among the locations affected by temporary airspace restrictions, leading to cancellations, delays, and rescheduling. They instructed airlines to notify passengers in advance via SMS, email, and call centers, ensure staff presence at the terminal, and provide coordinated updates to reduce hardship.
Passengers were advised to contact airlines or travel agents to confirm flight status before coming to the airport, with Bangladesh’s civil aviation regulator issuing similar guidance, the report said.
Bangladeshi carriers Biman Bangladesh Airlines and US-Bangla Airlines suspended Middle East-bound flights, with airline officials urging passengers not to travel to the airport without prior confirmation and providing hotline details for updates, Bangladeshi media added.
The disruption is expected to ripple beyond Gulf routes: airport officials noted that some long-haul flights from Dhaka, such as to London and Toronto, often pass through Middle Eastern airspace and may need rerouting, potentially increasing flight time and operating costs.
Meanwhile, Bangladesh missions in several Gulf states issued safety advisories to expatriates, while the expatriates’ welfare ministry said stranded travellers would be assisted with overnight accommodation at the airport.
