PM Tarique Rahman Inquires as Thousands of Passengers Stranded at Airport Amid Middle East Flight Suspensions

This has left thousands of expatriates and connecting passengers bound for Europe and the Americas stranded in dire conditions at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport. To manage the situation, Ariful Haque Choudhury, the Minister for Expatriates' Welfare and Overseas Employment, visited the airport at 11:30 PM on Saturday to speak with affected travelers.

During a press briefing during the visit, Prime Minister Tarique Rahman called the Minister personally to inquire about the current status and wellbeing of the passengers. The Minister assured that the Ministry and Civil Aviation authorities are jointly coordinating food and accommodation for those stranded. So far, the Ministry has arranged housing for 50 people, while Civil Aviation has provided for an additional 800. Notably, 53 Muscat-bound passengers from Sylhet have been moved to a hotel; they were provided with Sehri and were scheduled to be sent back to Sylhet by AC bus on Sunday. Since Saturday afternoon, all flights from Dhaka have been canceled due to the closure of airspaces in Iran and other Middle Eastern nations, and operations remain uncertain until the situation improves.