Flight disruptions caused by a recent attack at Riyadh airport have resulted in the cancellation of 100 flights bound for Saudi Arabia, affecting over 15,000 passengers, including numerous migrant workers and Umrah pilgrims. The disruptions have created uncertainty regarding employment, visa status, and travel arrangements for those impacted.

According to the Civil Aviation Authority of Bangladesh (Caab), as of 6:30 p.m. on October 14, a total of 41 direct and 59 transit flights departing from Dhaka encountered restrictions at Saudi airports. Among the direct flights affected, Biman Bangladesh Airlines experienced the highest number of cancellations with 17, followed by US-Bangla Airlines at 10, while Saudia Airlines and Riyadh Air had seven cancellations each.

Transit flight cancellations were led by IndiGo with 22 affected flights, Emirates with 14, SalamAir and Qatar Airways with seven each, Flydubai with six, Air India with two, and EgyptAir with one.

In response to the situation, Biman Bangladesh Airlines has temporarily suspended its Dhaka-to-Dammam and Dhaka-to-Riyadh routes until October 17, citing concerns for passenger safety. Passengers holding return tickets have reported difficulties obtaining refunds or securing alternative flights, with some experiencing fares doubling on other carriers.

Political figures have called for government intervention amid the ongoing uncertainty. Jamaat-e-Islami Ameer Shafiqur Rahman urged authorities to take immediate action to mitigate the negative impacts of the flight disruptions on Bangladeshi expatriate workers.

Meanwhile, Md Nurul Haque, State Minister for Expatriates’ Welfare and Overseas Employment, stated on Monday that the Bangladeshi government is engaged in bilateral discussions with Saudi Arabian officials, seeking to extend the visas of stranded workers affected by the cancellations. The talks aim to address the urgent challenges faced by expatriates amid the ongoing travel disruptions.