Highlights:
- Tk214 crore iconic Cox's Bazar station remains partially operational.
- Promised facilities, including waiting rooms, hotel and restaurants, remain unavailable.
- Poor maintenance has caused rust, moss growth and equipment damage.
- Staffing shortages leave the station operating at roughly one-third capacity.
- Only four train pairs serve the route daily, against 31 planned.
- Bangladesh Railway relaxed tender conditions, extending the contract to 20 years.
The Iran war that began eight months ago severely disrupted Bangladesh's energy sourcing. Now, the conflict between the Houthis in Yemen and Saudi Arabia has disrupted its manpower supply, posing a potential threat to inward remittances, a major source of the country's foreign currency reserves.
The mounting crisis in the Middle East has also exposed a major vulnerability in Bangladesh's economy: its heavy reliance on the Saudi Arabian labour market. Now, the kingdom's sharp decline in recruitment is sending shockwaves through Bangladesh's overseas employment sector.
The country sent 5,90,188 workers abroad between 1 January and 17 October this year, down 31.8% from 8,64,735 during the same period in 2025, according to data from the Bureau of Manpower, Employment and Training (BMET).
The downturn is largely attributable to Saudi Arabia, by far the biggest destination for Bangladeshi migrant workers. A total of 3,15,935 Bangladeshis migrated to the kingdom during the period, down 45.2% from 5,77,010 a year earlier.
The decline of 2,61,075 workers in Saudi Arabia alone accounts for around 95% of the net fall of 2,74,547 in Bangladesh's overseas employment year-on-year.
Analysts suggest that some recent remittances may have come from expatriates hastily sending home their savings out of fear and uncertainty, rather than from stable, ongoing earnings.
Mohammad Jalal Uddin Sikder, an associate professor at North South University, cautioned: "War can push expatriates to send home their savings amid uncertainty, temporarily increasing remittances. But if the conflict continues unresolved, inflows could decline after the first few months."
Khondaker Golam Moazzem, president of Knowledge Hub Institute Trust, warned that a prolonged conflict could severely affect both employment and wages as economic activities and investment projects stall across parts of the Middle East.
He said reduced capital spending in key destinations such as Saudi Arabia and the UAE directly threatens demand for new labour and increases the risk of layoffs among those already employed.
State Minister for Foreign Affairs Shama Obaed Islam also acknowledged the immense stakes involved, saying that more than three million Bangladeshis currently live and work in Saudi Arabia.
"An effect is inevitable in a place where more than three million Bangladeshis work," she told reporters, adding that the government is looking to explore alternative markets to ease long-term pressures.
Rising flight disruptions pose a new concern
Ongoing regional conflicts, including the conflict involving Iran that began in February and recent security-related disruptions at Saudi airports, particularly Riyadh Airport, due to Houthi attacks, have led to the cancellation of more than 1,000 flights since February.
Following the Iran war, recruitment also declined in other major destinations. Bangladesh sent 52,060 workers to Qatar during the January to 17 October period, down from 86,171 a year earlier, while the number going to Kuwait fell to 25,035 from 34,928.
Some markets bucked the trend. Singapore received 62,647 Bangladeshi workers, up from 56,591, while deployments to the United Arab Emirates increased to 22,848 from 10,142.
Monthly overseas employment clearances have remained between 44,000 and 70,000 since February, according to BMET data. This is well below the post-pandemic average of around 100,000 workers a month and represents a return to pre-Covid migration levels.
Most recently, restrictions on Saudi airport operations disrupted 141 direct and transit flights from Dhaka in the week between October 10 and October 23, stranding 21,933 passengers, according to the flight management department of Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport.
These prospective migrants now face severe uncertainty after investing substantial sums to secure jobs and visas for the region.
However, State Minister for Expatriates' Welfare and Overseas Employment Nurul Haque said the government is actively engaged in bilateral discussions to secure visa extensions for stranded workers.
Remittance flows at a crossroads
Despite the sharp contraction in fresh recruitment, remittance inflows have so far shown a complex resilience, although experts warn that it may be short-lived.
Bangladesh received $8.59 billion in remittances during the first quarter of the current fiscal year (July-September), up 13.3% from $7.59 billion a year earlier.
Saudi Arabia remains a major source of these inflows. Between July and September, the kingdom accounted for 19.2% of total remittances, sending $1.65 billion, about 34% higher than the $1.23 billion received from the kingdom during the same period a year earlier.
However, warning signs are already emerging. Bangladesh received $2.77 billion in September, the lowest monthly inflow in 11 months, down from $2.97 billion in August, according to recent Bangladesh Bank data.