Dhaka – Flight operations from Bangladesh to the Middle East have been suspended after several Gulf nations closed their airspace due to the escalating conflict between Iran and Israel, authorities in Dhaka said on Saturday.
In the wake of Israeli airstrikes, coordinated with the United States, on Iran, and the subsequent Iranian retaliation with waves of missiles and drone attacks on Israel and US bases in West Asia, the Civil Aviation Authority of Bangladesh (CAAB) issued urgent directives to all airlines on Saturday.
The directives follow the temporary closure of several Middle Eastern airspaces amid heightened regional tensions.
According to the CAAB, the airspace of Bahrain, Kuwait, the United Arab Emirates, and Qatar has been temporarily closed, in line with decisions taken by their respective civil aviation authorities following the recent security developments in the region.
As a result, several scheduled commercial flights on the affected routes have been cancelled, delayed, or rescheduled, they added.
In response, Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport (HSIA) authorities, under CAAB’s direction, have instructed all airlines to proactively inform passengers about flight cancellations or delays through SMS, email, and call centres.
Airlines have also been asked to ensure the presence of their staff at the airport to provide necessary information and guidance to passengers, according to the order.
The directives further emphasized the need to provide clear and coordinated information regarding rescheduled flights to minimize inconvenience to travelers.
Passengers planning to travel to the affected destinations have been requested to urgently contact their respective airline offices or travel agencies to verify flight status and take necessary measures.
The situation is being closely monitored to ensure passenger safety and a return to operational normalcy, CAAB officials said, seeking the cooperation and understanding of all concerned.
