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Flight cancellations leave Dhaka airport unusually quiet
Published : Tuesday, 13 October, 2026 at 5:05 PM
Observer Online Report
A series of flight cancellations following a Houthi missile attack in Saudi Arabia has left the departure terminal of Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport in Dhaka unusually quiet, with far fewer passengers than usual.
The change was visible on Tuesday, October 13, as the terminal, normally crowded with passengers and their relatives, saw a noticeable decline in footfall.
Nasir Uddin, a tourist travelling to Sri Lanka, said he had previously visited India, Malaysia and Nepal but had never seen the airport so empty. He said passengers usually had to push through crowds of travellers and relatives to join queues, but the terminal was almost deserted on Tuesday because of the cancellation of Saudi-bound flights.
Habibur Rahman, who was travelling with Nasir, said they had visited several countries together but had never witnessed such a scene at the airport. He said the low passenger turnout reflected the scale of travel between Bangladesh and Saudi Arabia, where many Bangladeshis live.
Arifur Rahman, a passenger travelling to Qatar, also said the airport lacked its usual busy atmosphere. He expressed sadness that many passengers were unable to travel because of the cancellations.
According to information available at the airport, Yemen's Houthi rebels launched a missile attack on Riyadh airport on October 10, resulting in casualties, including Bangladeshis. The airport was subsequently closed, and flights from Dhaka to Riyadh were suspended.
As of Tuesday, 61 direct and transit flights had been cancelled, leaving more than 9,000 passengers stranded.
Biman Bangladesh Airlines and US-Bangla Airlines have cancelled their flights until October 17 and October 21, respectively.
Passengers who arrived at the airport on Sunday and Monday reportedly decided not to return after being informed of the cancellations.
Saudi-bound passenger Sabuj went to the airport on Monday despite the cancellation of his flight. He later returned to Jashore that night, saying he would come back to the airport once contacted by the airline.
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Editor : Iqbal Sobhan Chowdhury
Published by the Editor on behalf of the Observer Ltd. from Globe Printers, 24/A, New Eskaton Road, Ramna, Dhaka.
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Published by the Editor on behalf of the Observer Ltd. from Globe Printers, 24/A, New Eskaton Road, Ramna, Dhaka.
Editorial, News and Commercial Offices : Aziz Bhaban (2nd floor), 93, Motijheel C/A, Dhaka-1000.
Phone: PABX- 41053001-06; Advertisement: 41053012; 01793317829, 01550707291, E-mail: [email protected], [email protected] Online: email: [email protected] 41053014; 01550707297 Advertisement: 01550707296
