Houthi strikes on airports in Riyadh, Abha and Dammam have killed at least 19 people and injured more than 360, according to the Saudi-led coalition. Some airlines have suspended flights to Riyadh. Brent crude closed near $106 a barrel earlier this week, with the Iran war already restricting shipping through the Strait of Hormuz.
Remittances at Risk
Saudi Arabia is Bangladesh’s largest remittance source. Workers there sent $5.85 billion last fiscal year, about 16 per cent of total inflows. Between July and September this year, they sent nearly $2 billion. Saudi Arabia has also employed about half of the 96 lakh Bangladeshis who went abroad for work since 2014-15. If jobs are lost or workers return home, the foreign exchange cushion could weaken. Biman Bangladesh Airlines suspended flights to Riyadh and Dammam until October 17.
Energy Bills and Gas Shortages
Saudi Arabia supplies roughly 35 per cent of Bangladesh’s crude oil imports. The country’s petroleum import bill more than doubled in fiscal year 2025-26, according to the World Bank. An October LNG cargo was approved at $29.795 per MMBtu, roughly three times the pre-war price. The World Bank expects growth to slow to 3.4 per cent in 2026-27 because of energy shortages and a fragile banking sector.
Exports and Shipping
Saudi Arabia is also a market for Bangladeshi garments and processed food. One company said Middle East orders have fallen about 40 per cent from pre-war levels. Attacks near the Bab el-Mandeb Strait could add shipping delays and higher freight costs.
What Experts Suggest
Analysts urge Bangladesh to model oil at $120, $150 and $180 per barrel. They also call for a formal LNG reserve instead of buying on a need basis.
A Wider South Asian Concern
The same pressure applies across South Asia, where millions of workers in the Gulf support families at home. India has already advised its citizens in Saudi Arabia to follow shelter guidance. The longer the attacks continue, the greater the chance that the cost of this conflict will be felt in households far from the battlefield.
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