Two Bangladeshis have been killed and several others injured in a reported Houthi attack on King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, raising concerns over the safety of Bangladeshi nationals and disrupting air travel between Bangladesh and the kingdom.
The deceased have been identified as Mohammad Nasrullah Badarpuri from Nangalkot in Cumilla and Mohammad Shahed Ahmed from Shajahanpur in Bogura. One was an Umrah pilgrim, while the other was employed in Riyadh.
Reports cited in the incident account said at least 25 Bangladeshis were injured, with four reportedly receiving intensive care treatment. However, the reported injury figures differ from the statement provided by Bangladesh's state minister for foreign affairs, who confirmed two deaths and four injuries among Bangladeshis. The number of injured nationals requires further verification.
The attack has also caused major disruptions to flights, leaving nearly 3,000 passengers scheduled to travel to Riyadh stranded in Bangladesh. Many migrant workers who arrived at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport in Dhaka from different parts of the country are facing uncertainty over when they will be able to travel.
Some passengers are particularly concerned because their permitted entry periods for Saudi Arabia are nearing expiration, potentially putting their employment at risk.
Eight flights had been cancelled by Sunday afternoon, including two operated by Biman Bangladesh Airlines, one by US-Bangla Airlines, three by Saudia and two by Riyadh Air. A total of 2,951 passengers were scheduled to travel on the cancelled flights.
Biman Bangladesh Airlines said it would announce an updated flight schedule at noon on Monday.
Attack Disrupts Airport Operations
Houthi rebels launched missile and drone attacks on King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh late Saturday night, according to the incident account. The attack temporarily disrupted airport operations and led to the cancellation of more than 300 flights.
The reported casualties included 12 people killed and 309 injured. Among the dead were four Saudi nationals, two Bangladeshis and one citizen each from the United States, Jordan, Palestine, Syria, Sudan and Egypt, according to information attributed to Saudi civil aviation authorities.
Bangladesh's Ministry of Foreign Affairs expressed deep concern over the attack and said the country's mission in Riyadh was maintaining contact with Saudi authorities to confirm the identities of those affected and arrange necessary assistance.
State Minister for Foreign Affairs Shama Obaed Islam told reporters on Sunday that two Bangladeshis had been killed and four injured in the attack. She said the injured were receiving treatment in intensive care at King Khalid Hospital in Saudi Arabia.
The government is taking steps to bring the bodies of the deceased back to Bangladesh at state expense, she said, adding that the Bangladesh embassy in Riyadh was monitoring the condition of the injured. She also confirmed that no Bangladeshi aircraft had been damaged in the attack.
Passengers Face Uncertainty Over Cancelled Flights
The airport disruption has thrown Dhaka-Riyadh air travel into disarray, leaving migrant workers and other passengers uncertain about their departure dates.
Many passengers had travelled to Dhaka from different districts to board their scheduled flights. Following the cancellations, they were left seeking information from airline counters about rescheduling and alternative travel arrangements.
Some are worried about the additional costs of accommodation, food and transportation, while migrant workers fear that delays in returning to their jobs could create problems with their employers.
Shakib, an airport security manager responsible for flight management at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport, said 2,951 passengers had been scheduled to travel to Riyadh on the eight cancelled flights.
The airlines concerned were informing affected passengers about the cancellations. Passengers were advised to contact their respective airlines for updated schedules and further instructions.
He described the situation as a global crisis and urged passengers to remain patient until conditions returned to normal.
Biman to Announce Updated Schedule
Biman Bangladesh Airlines suspended its scheduled flights on the Dhaka-Riyadh and Riyadh-Dhaka routes for October 11 and 12 as the Saudi airport remained closed.
The airline said the airport authorities had extended the suspension of operations until 21:00 UTC on October 11, equivalent to 3:00am Bangladesh time on October 12.
As there had been no clear progress towards reopening the airport, Biman suspended flights BG339 and BG340 on the affected routes.
The airline said it would inform passengers about revised flight schedules at noon on Monday, Bangladesh time.
Bangladesh Condemns Attack
Bangladesh strongly condemned the attack on King Khalid International Airport, which reportedly killed 12 people, including two Bangladeshis.
In a statement, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said the Bangladesh mission in Riyadh was in contact with Saudi authorities to obtain detailed information about the victims and provide necessary assistance to those affected.
The ministry said attacks that endanger civilian lives or target civilian infrastructure were unacceptable and must stop immediately.
Reaffirming its solidarity with Saudi Arabia, Bangladesh called for an end to hostilities in the Middle East and urged all parties to resolve the ongoing crisis through dialogue and diplomacy.
The government also called for the protection of civilians and civilian infrastructure and stressed the need for urgent steps to restore regional peace, security and stability.