Published : 01 Mar 2026, 02:56 AM
Updated : 21 Aug 2026, 03:25 PM
Mushfiqur Rahim has been left stranded at Jeddah’s King Abdulaziz International Airport while returning from Umrah following US and Israeli strikes on targets in Iran.
The former national cricket team captain shared his ordeal, describing the anxiety felt by thousands of passengers as regional tensions escalated into open conflict.
The rerouting occurred following reports of joint US and Israeli military strikes across various locations in Iran.
Mushfiqur’s flight, which had already departed for Dubai, was forced to turn back to Jeddah as airspace became restricted.
In a social media post, the cricketer said he had travelled to Makkah to perform Umrah and completed the pilgrimage.
He set off to return to Dhaka via Dubai on Saturday.
“Our flight departed from Jeddah for Dubai, but unfortunately, due to the war between the United States, Israel and Iran, all flights have returned to Jeddah.
“I am now at Jeddah airport with thousands of Bangladeshi passengers… Only Almighty Allah knows when and how we will be able to return to Dhaka,” the post read.
The strikes, purportedly aimed at limiting Tehran’s nuclear programme, took place following a breakdown in diplomatic negotiations.
In anticipation of retaliatory strikes, Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz has declared a national state of emergency.
Bangladesh has suspended all flights bound for the Middle East.
Explosions have also been reported in Kuwait and the United Arab Emirates, while Qatar, Kuwait and the UAE have announced the closure of their airspace.
The death toll from an Israeli air strike on a primary girls’ school in the city of Minab reportedly rose to 53.
