Thousands of anxious passengers hoping to reach the Middle East were left stranded in confusion and distress at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport on Saturday after sudden flight suspensions triggered by escalating regional tensions.
The abrupt closure of Middle Eastern airspace following attacks and counterattacks forced airlines to cancel dozens of flights, turning the capital’s main airport into a scene of uncertainty and mounting human suffering. Men and women with packed luggage waited helplessly under the airport canopy, many glued to their phones, others sitting on floors, unsure whether they would fly or return home defeated.
Airport officials said more than 150 flights operate daily from Shahjalal Airport, most bound for Middle Eastern destinations where millions of Bangladeshi migrant workers are employed. But as security risks intensified on Saturday, at least 50 flights scheduled between noon and midnight were cancelled, with over 100 more facing suspension or uncertainty through the night and into Sunday.
Passengers who had already cleared immigration faced a particularly painful ordeal. Some were escorted out and sent to hotels, while others remained inside the airport for hours, exhausted and frustrated. Outside, thousands more were stopped at the entrance gates as airlines barred late-night passengers from entering amid the chaos.
In a statement, the Civil Aviation Authority of Bangladesh said several Middle Eastern countries, including Bahrain, Kuwait, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates, had temporarily closed their airspace due to rising military tensions. This forced commercial flights to be cancelled, delayed or rescheduled without warning.
Biman Bangladesh Airlines also confirmed suspending passenger flights to Middle Eastern destinations after explosions and security threats were reported across the region. However, the airline could not specify when normal operations would resume, deepening uncertainty among travellers.
Many stranded passengers said they had spent their last savings on tickets, hoping to return to jobs abroad after visiting family. Instead, they found themselves trapped at the airport with no clear answers. Some broke down in frustration, while others desperately contacted relatives and employers abroad, fearing job losses and financial ruin.
Airport authorities instructed airlines to notify passengers through SMS, email and call centres, and to deploy staff to assist those affected. But for thousands already caught in the disruption, the damage was done. Their journeys halted by distant war, they were left waiting in limbo, carrying luggage, worry and unanswered questions.