Two Bangladeshi nationals were killed and 27 others sustained injuries in a devastating Houthi missile attack targeting Saudi Arabia's King Khalid International Airport in the capital city of Riyadh on Saturday afternoon, approximately at 3:15 PM.
According to the latest report issued by the labor welfare wing of the Bangladesh Embassy in Riyadh, the deadly assault resulted in a total of 13 fatalities from various nations and left 309 individuals wounded. Among the casualties, the 27 affected Bangladeshis comprise 11 expatriate workers residing in Saudi Arabia and 16 pilgrims travelling on Umrah visas.
Out of the injured Bangladeshi nationals, 12 have already been discharged from hospitals following primary medical care, while 15 remain hospitalized receiving treatment. Embassy officials confirmed that five of the hospitalized victims sustained critical injuries; although four are now out of danger, one Umrah pilgrim named Saffat Rahman, a resident of Naogaon, remains in a critical condition. The Bangladesh Embassy maintains round-the-clock communication with local hospital authorities to ensure proper medical treatment and monitor the evolving health status of the injured citizens.
The aerial assault also caused significant travel disruptions, leaving over 500 Bangladeshi nationals stranded at Riyadh airport, comprising both incoming travellers and those scheduled for departure. In response to the crisis, authorities safely relocated 17 Umrah pilgrims to the Marriott Hotel, 25 to the Radisson Blu Hotel, and 40 to the dormitory of Princess Nourah bint Abdulrahman University in Riyadh.
to-Dhaka Saudi Arabian Airlines flights are being arranged for repatriation to Bangladesh. This operation is being facilitated through Dammam's King Fahad International Airport with the active cooperation of airport management, Saudi immigration, and the respective airline authorities.
