Why Saudi airport attacks matter for Bangladesh
The latest wave of attacks on Saudi airports has killed two Bangladeshis and forced Biman Bangladesh Airlines to suspend its Dhaka-Riyadh flight, bringing the escalating security threat closer to home for Bangladeshis travelling to the kingdom for work and pilgrimage.
Saudi Arabian civil aviation authority said 12 people, including two Bangladeshis, were killed and 309 others injured in an attack on Riyadh's King Khalid International Airport on October 10.
The identities of the two Bangladeshis could not be immediately established. Besides, four Bangladeshis are receiving treatment in the intensive care unit (ICU) of a hospital in Riyadh after the attack, State Minister for Foreign Affairs Shama Obaed Islam said today.
This attack, the third on Riyadh airport within a week, damaged airport facilities and prompted a temporary suspension of operations, with flights cancelled or diverted.
Biman announced on Saturday that its Dhaka-Riyadh-Dhaka flights BG339 and BG340 had been suspended until further notice, citing the suspension of inbound flights at the Riyadh airport.
The disruption has also affected other airlines operating between Dhaka and Riyadh. According to CAAB figures reported by Prothom Alo, several flights operated by Saudia and Riyadh Air were cancelled by Sunday morning following the closure of the airport in Riyadh.
A US-Bangla Airlines flight was also reported to have diverted on Saturday, arriving in Dhaka early Sunday.
A major travel and economic corridor
For Bangladesh, any prolonged disruption in such a major hub as Riyadh could have wide-ranging consequences. Saudi Arabia is a major destination for Bangladeshi migrant workers, while Jeddah and Madinah are key gateways for those travelling for Umrah and, during the Hajj season, the annual pilgrimage.
The demand is reflected in figures cited by the Bangladesh Civil Aviation in August, when its chair said around 1.1 million Bangladeshis travelled to Saudi Arabia through indirect routes. The reference period for the figure was not specified.
The two countries also agreed in August to increase direct passenger flights from 49 to 84 a week, reflecting efforts to expand capacity in this corridor. These are permitted flight frequencies, and not the number of flights actually operated. Nonetheless, it reflects the growing traffic on this vital route.
Saudi Arabia was Bangladesh's largest source of remittance in the 2025-26 fiscal year, with inflows of $5.85 billion, up from $4.26 billion the previous year, according to Bangladesh Bank.
Although remittances do not represent airline revenue, the figures are important as they underline the economic importance of maintaining connectivity between the two countries.
Many of the journeys to Saudi Arabia are tied to employment commitments, visa conditions, and prepaid accommodation arrangements. Connectivity delays or flight cancellations could create additional difficulties for passengers with limited flexibility as regards their travel plans.
Expanding security threat
The security threat has also expanded to eastern Saudi Arabia, where the Saudi-led coalition in Yemen reported that a projectile landed near King Fahd International Airport in Dammam late Saturday.
Coalition spokesman Major General Turki Al-Maliki confirmed the incident.
The development is significant for Bangladesh because Dammam is another destination served by Biman and used by travellers heading to Saudi Arabia's Eastern Province.
The incident widens the geographical concern beyond Riyadh, where repeated attacks have already disrupted airport operations.
Airspace warnings widen
For all latest news, follow The Daily Star's Google News channel. On October 9, the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) expanded its warning for Saudi Arabia, advising airlines to avoid additional portions of Saudi airspace following the attacks on Riyadh.
The revised advisory recommends that airlines avoid two designated areas, including an additional area in the northwest, while exercising caution elsewhere in the Jeddah Flight Information Region.
Aviation safety organisation OPSGROUP has gone further, recommending that its members avoid Saudi airspace entirely, including the use of Saudi airports as alternate landing destinations.
For airlines operating between Bangladesh and Saudi Arabia, these warnings would require strengthening contingency arrangements in case of unforeseen disruptions.
Disruptions on Bangladesh routes
Flight-tracking records reviewed by The Daily Star show that disruptions on Bangladesh-Saudi services had begun before Saturday's attack, although the reasons for individual incidents could not be independently established.
Saudia's Dhaka-Riyadh flight SV805 was listed as cancelled on October 8. The same service experienced a delay of approximately six hours on October 6, while delays exceeding an hour were also recorded on October 3 and 4, before the latest wave of attacks began.
A Biman flight from Dhaka to Jeddah was recorded by Flightradar24 as diverting to Madinah on October 6 before continuing to its destination. The reason could not be ascertained. On October 9, Saudia's Dhaka-Jeddah flight SV809 departed 42 minutes behind schedule, according to Flightradar24.
Contingency planning becomes critical
The latest developments raise questions about how airlines operating between Bangladesh and Saudi Arabia would maintain services if attacks on airports or restrictions on surrounding airspace continue.
The situation also draws attention to contingency arrangements, including alternative landing options, passenger rebooking, accommodation assistance and communication during sudden disruptions.
Changes to routes can also affect fuel consumption, aircraft utilisation, crew duty hours and subsequent flight schedules.
The latest casualties and confirmed flight suspension demonstrate that the escalating security situation now has direct consequences for Bangladesh.
The concern is no longer confined to suspended flights to Riyadh. With security threats emerging near other Saudi airports, the risks extend to a travel corridor that supports Bangladesh's overseas workforce, pilgrimage traffic and wider economic ties with the kingdom.
How airlines and aviation authorities on both sides maintain the connectivity amid an increasingly volatile security environment is now the larger challenge.
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