Dhaka – Biman Bangladesh Airlines has squandered a critical opportunity to enhance its reputation by failing to take a leading role in the urgent wartime rescue of its citizens, a situation that has left thousands of passengers stranded across the Middle East.
While numerous international carriers acted swiftly to evacuate their crew and citizens following the escalation of hostilities, Biman’s indecisiveness has left many Bangladeshi workers, who form the backbone of the nation’s remittance economy, in a precarious position.
Back home, their families endure sleepless, anxious nights, yet the national flag carrier appears untouched by the urgency of the crisis.
The conflict erupted with a surprise US-Israel air assault on Iranian targets, triggering heavy bombardment across the Gulf region. The situation spiraled as Iran launched retaliatory missile strikes on Israeli positions and US bases in neighboring Qatar, Kuwait, Bahrain, Iraq, and the UAE, resulting in significant casualties and widespread destruction.
Five days into the war, Biman had failed to rescue not only its stranded passengers but even its own crew members stuck in key Gulf cities including Dubai, Abu Dhabi, and Sharjah in the UAE; Dammam in Saudi Arabia; and Doha in Qatar.
Operations were paralyzed after regional airspace was closed following Iran’s sustained missile attacks on US military installations and ongoing US-Israeli strikes.
In stark contrast, private carrier US-Bangla Airlines demonstrated decisive action. The airline announced two special humanitarian flights on the Dhaka-Dubai-Dhaka route for Wednesday and Thursday specifically to rescue stranded passengers, particularly those with expiring visas.
Meanwhile, Biman has been left in the humiliating position of relying on its private competitor to extract its own personnel.
Internal correspondence reveals that Biman’s Dubai office requested permission from higher authorities to purchase tickets for its stranded crew on US-Bangla’s humanitarian flight.
A letter titled “Crew Recovery Plan,” seen by Newsnext, detailed the plan. “I’ve communicated with US-Bangla Sales manager and requested him to block 27 seats for our crew,” an official wrote to his superiors, noting the cost of 1,650 Dirham per ticket for Wednesday’s flight.
An earlier, convoluted plan to bus crew members from the UAE to Muscat, Oman, and then arrange flights to Dhaka, had already fallen through.
Widespread disruption and stranded passengers
The impact of the conflict has been immense. Aviation sources report that over one million passengers across the region have been affected by the cancellation of more than 12,900 flights in the first three days following the outbreak of war on February 28.
In Bangladesh, nearly 150 flights to Middle Eastern destinations have been suspended or cancelled, leaving countless passengers, mostly migrant workers, stranded at Dhaka, Chattogram, and Sylhet airports.
Biman has issued an “important notice” regretting the suspension of flights to Dammam, Doha, Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Sharjah, and Kuwait until further notice.
The notice advises passengers to contact Biman sales offices or travel agents and provides two hotline numbers (13636 and +8809610913636) for information. The airline states it is closely monitoring the situation and will provide updates as circumstances evolve.
The human cost is already evident. The Bangladesh Foreign Ministry has confirmed casualties within the Bangladeshi migrant community. Two workers have died, one in Bahrain and one in the UAE, in missile attacks, while seven others have reportedly been injured in drone and missile strikes in Bahrain and Kuwait.
Global response highlights Biman’s inaction
The contrast with the swift action taken by other nations is stark. The UK’s British Airways successfully repatriated dozens of its crew from the UAE on March 2. In coordination with the Foreign Office, the airline dispatched an empty Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner to Muscat, Oman. Its pilots and cabin crew were then bussed 300 miles across the desert from the UAE to Oman for the flight home.
This operation was seen as a “dry run” for what could be the largest overseas repatriation in UK history. By Wednesday, the UK government had begun planning the rescue of over 100,000 stranded British citizens.
India also launched an immediate evacuation effort. On March 2nd, four special Etihad Airways evacuation flights arrived in major Indian cities. Air India operated a relief flight bringing 149 stranded passengers from Dubai to New Delhi, and IndiGo announced ten special flights from Jeddah.
The government of Maharashtra state arranged two aircraft to rescue its residents, and special flights were announced to bring nearly 8,000 stranded passengers home from Doha.
Government meeting yields little action
At home, Bangladesh’s Civil Aviation and Tourism Minister, Afroz Khanam Rita, convened a high-level meeting on Tuesday to review the crisis and Biman’s operational response, focusing on the plight of stranded passengers.
The minister directed officials to prioritize passengers with expired or expiring visas once flights resume, and instructed airlines to maintain constant communication and provide accurate updates.
She urged a humanitarian approach, calling on airlines not to impose additional charges and to remain vigilant against misinformation. “We must continue our efforts to ensure that passengers are not subjected to harassment,” she stated.
However, the meeting, which reviewed Biman’s operational approach, notably did not discuss any options for an immediate rescue operation.
An internal Biman meeting on Tuesday had decided to maintain the suspension of flights to the six Gulf destinations and explore the use of Muscat airport as an alternative for operational contingencies. By Wednesday, this plan had effectively been abandoned in favor of the humiliating option of buying seats for its crew on a US-Bangla flight, according to sources.
