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authorities have restricted such gatherings,” he said. “There are thousands of daily wage workers like us who are suffering.”

Bangladeshi businesses in the Gulf are also struggling. “Be it clothing shops or construction work, every business is affected. There are almost no tourists in the thriving tourism industry of Bahrain,” said Shafi Sarwar, a Bangladeshi businessman in Manama.

The Middle East hosts some 70 lakh Bangladeshi migrants, according to the Bureau of Manpower, Employment, and Training (BMET).

But overseas employment has dropped sharply in recent months. BMET data shows emigration clearance fell from 95,095 in January to 65,634 in February, and further to 44,661 in March.

In 2025, more than 80 percent of over one million Bangladeshi migrants went to the Middle East, which accounted for around 60 percent of the country’s $32 billion remittance.

Sharmin Akhter, 26, of Satkhira secured work visas for Jordan on February 27 and was supposed to fly in the first week of March.

“I am unable to fly and join work because my agency could not buy an air ticket,” she told this newspaper yesterday. “Now I’m worried over the uncertainty created by the war.”

Ali Haider Chowdhury, former secretary general of the Bangladesh Association of International Recruiting Agencies, said many workers who had received clearance are now also reluctant to travel due to security concerns.

“Employers are naturally hesitant to issue visas amid the business slowdown,” he said, warning that remittance inflows could be affected.

Shakirul Islam, chairman of the Ovibashi Karmi Unnayan Programme, stressed that immediate attention must be given to migrants affected by the crisis.

“A significant number of Bangladeshi migrants are daily wage earners with irregular work. They are bearing the brunt of the crisis,” he said.

Field reports suggest many have lost jobs or seen incomes fall sharply, with some struggling to afford food and shelter after being displaced, he said, urging Bangladesh missions in the Gulf to provide emergency support.

Fahmida Khatun, executive director of the Centre for Policy Dialogue, said higher energy import costs due to the Middle East crisis are already straining Bangladesh’s economy.

“If overseas employment declines due to a prolonged conflict, it will further aggravate economic challenges,” she said. “Migrant families would suffer from reduced income and job losses.”

Each year, over 20 lakh youths enter the job market, of whom about 10 lakh seek jobs abroad, while only around one lakh are absorbed into formal employment.

“With private investment already low, a decline in overseas jobs would create a double burden for the employment sector,” Fahmida said.

She emphasised diplomatic engagement with Gulf countries to protect migrant jobs and ensure support during the crisis.

Fahmida also recommended seeking assistance from international organisations and bilateral partners and creating a special fund for migrant workers to support evacuation and reintegration if necessary.