The ongoing conflict in the Middle East has also affected international air travel. About 3,500 Bangladeshi Umrah pilgrims are stranded in Mecca and Medina in Saudi Arabia due to one-on-one flight cancellations, sources said.
Bangladesh Hajj Mission officials said that several Middle Eastern airlines have suddenly canceled or suspended flights due to the regional security situation. As a result, many Bangladeshis who recently went to Saudi Arabia to perform Umrah have missed their scheduled flights back home.
Many passengers have had to purchase new tickets as their tickets have been cancelled. There are allegations that travel agencies are demanding additional money for new tickets. This has left many passengers in financial crisis.
Consul General of the Bangladesh Hajj Mission Kamrul Islam said, “Many passengers are facing problems in paying hotel rent or food expenses. They come to the mission every day seeking assistance. We are trying to resolve the problem by contacting the relevant travel agencies.”
Some passengers in Mecca said they were asked to buy new tickets after their scheduled return flights were canceled, making it difficult for many to afford the cost. Meanwhile, in many cases, passengers are also having to cover the cost of accommodation and food themselves as their packages have expired.
Although the government is considering launching special flights, due to the high cost, initiatives have been taken to repatriate passengers through regular flights in phases. It is also reported that some passengers are returning to Bangladesh via transit through other countries using alternative routes.
Authorities say that once the situation normalizes, arrangements will be strengthened to quickly repatriate stranded passengers.