A total of 54 flights operating between Dhaka and various destinations in the Middle East were cancelled from Saturday afternoon through Sunday due to rising security concerns and temporary airspace restrictions following the US-Israel strikes on Iran.
The cancellation was confirmed by Executive Director of Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport (HSIA) Group Captain SM Ragib Samad in a statement issued on Sunday morning.
Airport authorities said the disruption occurred after several countries in the region closed or restricted their airspace as tensions escalated.
Sources at the airport indicated that 27 flights were initially suspended on Saturday after the airspace closures took effect. The cancellations affected approximately 10,000 passengers who were scheduled to travel to Gulf and other Middle Eastern destinations for work, family visits, or transit purposes.
In response to the situation, the Ministry of Expatriates’ Welfare and Overseas Employment arranged temporary accommodation for a number of stranded passengers. Others reportedly returned to their homes or villages after learning about the flight suspensions.
Airport officials stated that airlines are closely monitoring developments and will resume operations once airspace conditions normalise and security clearances are restored. Passengers have been advised to stay in contact with their respective airlines for updated flight information.
Authorities also urged travellers to remain patient and follow official announcements rather than rely on unverified information circulating on social media.
They said coordination with international aviation regulators and regional authorities is ongoing to assess the safety of resumed operations.
The situation remains fluid as airlines and aviation officials continue to monitor regional developments before restoring full flight schedules.
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