Published : 19 Mar 2026, 03:28 PM
Updated : 21 Aug 2026, 03:29 PM
Geopolitical instability and the ongoing conflict across the Middle East have cast a shadow over the lives of Bangladeshi expatriates in Kuwait.
The conflict involving the US, Israel, and Iran, which began on Feb 28, has transformed the 17,820-sq-km nation into a zone of uncertainty.
Residents now navigate an environment filled with the sound of sirens and the smell of gunpowder, stalling the usual festive preparations for the upcoming Eid-ul-Fitr.
For the roughly 320,000 Bangladeshis living there, the holiday spirit has been replaced by a struggle for survival and the heartache of being unable to reach their families.
The closure of Kuwait International Airport on Thursday has left many migrants unable to return home.
Kamal Ahmed, a cleaner from Kishoreganj who has spent two decades at the Weal Al Nusif company, had planned to fly back after five years away.
He feels devastated that he cannot see his children, noting that explaining the complexities of war to them is an impossible task.
Kamal said while he can try to reason with himself, he has no words for his children who had been desperately waiting for his arrival.
The economic fallout is equally severe for others like Mohammad Shahin Ahmad from Brahmanbaria. Working for Trust Cleaning, his income has plummeted to its lowest level as opportunities for overtime work have vanished.
With no extra income opportunities, he has not been able to send Eid money home or buy clothes for his children, adding to his stress.
Older migrants are also caught in the crossfire. Sajjadul Islam, a 70-year-old from Narayanganj who has worked in Kuwait for 18 years, typically pays his sponsor 500 Kuwaiti Dinars annually to work independently.
The current lack of jobs has left him near destitution.
He spoke of his exhaustion and the crushing disappointment of spending his final working years idle and alone instead of celebrating with his family.
Md Shahabuddin from Munshiganj has been living without a valid residence permit, or Iqama, for 12 years and is now waiting for government amnesty.
Having lost both parents during his time abroad, he remains unable to leave due to legal hurdles.
This Eid, with no income, he cannot even send money to his family, adding another layer to his feelings of helplessness.
Tragedy has also struck Rais Uddin from Sylhet, whose 6-year-old daughter drowned just a fortnight ago.
The suspension of flights meant he could not return to see her one last time.
“She had asked for a new dress for Eid. I sent the money, but my daughter is no more,” he said, his grief stretching across borders.
The war has also shaken livelihoods. Migrant-run businesses are seeing losses each day.
Community leader Abul Kashem said many have lost jobs, incomes are shrinking, raising concerns over the impact on Bangladesh’s remittance flow.
Bangladesh’s Ambassador to Kuwait Syed Tareq Hussain has urged patience during this difficult time.
According to him, Eid gatherings at Bangladesh House have been cancelled for security reasons, but the embassy is working to support stranded nationals.
He said those stuck on transit flights have been sent home via Saudi Arabia through alternative routes.
Migrants have been asked to stay alert, avoid rumours, and follow official updates as uncertainty continues.
