The Middle East is approaching another dangerous geopolitical turning point as tensions escalate amid reports of drone and missile attacks by the Houthi group targeting critical infrastructure, airports and maritime routes across Saudi Arabia.
The latest incident—a deadly attack on King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh that reportedly killed 13 people, including two Bangladeshis—has heightened regional tensions. The prospect of a wider conflict poses serious risks not only to regional stability but also to countries far beyond the Arabian Peninsula.
For Bangladesh, the stakes are particularly high.
Any escalation that threatens Saudi Arabia’s security could have direct implications for Bangladesh’s energy supplies, foreign exchange reserves, labour market and the livelihoods of millions of families. It also touches a profound religious and emotional bond: the attachment of Bangladeshi Muslims to the land of the Two Holy Mosques.
Against this backdrop, Bangladesh faces a delicate strategic challenge. It must safeguard its national interests, firmly oppose attacks that endanger civilians and sovereign territory, and preserve diplomatic channels with regional powers. These objectives are not mutually exclusive. Rather, they should form the foundation of a coherent foreign policy that puts Bangladesh’s interests first.
Dhaka has consistently condemned attacks targeting civilian lives and critical infrastructure in Saudi Arabia. For the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), under the leadership of Tarique Rahman, and the government he leads, Saudi Arabia’s security and stability should be treated as strategic priorities, not matters of diplomatic convenience. This position rests on religious solidarity, economic interdependence and the fundamental responsibility of any government to protect its citizens.
Understanding Bangladesh’s position requires looking beyond diplomatic statements to the sentiments and everyday realities of its people.
Across the country, sympathy for causes perceived as resistance to external domination or injustice in the Muslim world can run deep. Such sentiments may shape perceptions of Iran and its regional posture among sections of the population. But sympathy for a cause does not automatically translate into support for actions that threaten Saudi Arabia. Nor does it justify attacks on Saudi cities, airports or civilian infrastructure, regardless of the identity of those responsible.
The distinction matters. Bangladeshis can oppose injustice and support the legitimate rights of people across the Muslim world without endorsing attacks on another Muslim-majority country. Solidarity with one cause should never require indifference to the security of another.
Supporting just causes in the Muslim world does not mean accepting threats to the security and stability of the big sister, Saudi Arabia, a country with which Bangladesh shares deep religious, social and economic ties.
The country occupies a distinctive place in Bangladesh’s national consciousness. It is home to Makkah and Madinah, the two holiest cities in Islam, and a destination for millions of Bangladeshi pilgrims undertaking Hajj and Umrah. It is also a major destination for Bangladeshi migrant workers, whose earnings sustain households, finance education, support local businesses and contribute to the country’s foreign exchange reserves.
For countless families, Saudi Arabia is not a distant geopolitical actor. It is where a father works to educate his children, where a mother earns to support her family, or where a relative has spent years building a livelihood.
Consequently, threats to Saudi Arabia’s security are felt in Bangladesh in ways that transcend conventional foreign policy calculations. Religious attachment and economic interests reinforce one another, giving Bangladesh a substantial national stake in the Kingdom’s stability.
Bangladesh’s position should be understood through two complementary principles: solidarity with the Muslim world and respect for international law.
Article 25 of the Constitution of Bangladesh identifies international peace, security and solidarity as guiding principles of the country’s international relations. The concept of the Ummah likewise carries a moral responsibility to protect human life, preserve dignity and prevent unnecessary suffering. These commitments provide an important foundation for Bangladesh’s engagement with the wider Muslim world.
They cannot reasonably be interpreted as an obligation to overlook attacks on civilians simply because those responsible invoke political or religious causes. Condemning attacks that endanger Saudi civilians and undermine regional stability is therefore consistent with Bangladesh’s moral commitments and its stated foreign policy principles.
The same position is supported by international humanitarian law, which protects civilians and civilian objects during armed conflict. The legal status of airports and other infrastructure depends on the circumstances and the applicable rules, but deliberate attacks on civilians are prohibited. All parties to an armed conflict must comply with their relevant legal obligations.
Bangladesh should therefore condemn attacks that endanger civilian lives and threaten Saudi Arabia’s sovereignty, irrespective of the identity or stated motives of those responsible. Such a position is neither sectarian nor an endorsement of every policy pursued by Riyadh. It is a principled defence of civilian protection, territorial integrity and regional stability.
The security of the Two Holy Mosques deserves particular attention because of their exceptional religious significance to Muslims worldwide. The stability of the Kingdom that hosts and safeguards these sacred sites is a matter of profound concern for Bangladesh. At the same time, that concern should be expressed through a broader commitment to peace, restraint and the protection of civilian populations throughout the region.
The economic dimension of Bangladesh’s relationship with Saudi Arabia cannot be ignored.
The Kingdom hosts a substantial Bangladeshi expatriate population, estimated at around 3.5 million out of its total population of approximately 15 million. In the first quarter of FY2026-27, Saudi Arabia accounted for $1.65 billion in remittances to Bangladesh, representing roughly one-fifth of the country’s total remittance earnings during the period. These remittances sustain household consumption, reduce economic vulnerability and support Bangladesh’s balance of payments. For a country heavily dependent on overseas employment, the stability of this labour market is therefore a matter of national economic security.
A serious conflict could disrupt flights, delay visa processing, constrain recruitment and expose workers to physical danger. It could also drive up oil prices, shipping costs and insurance premiums while undermining investor confidence, adding pressure to an economy already vulnerable to external shocks.
These risks are not abstract. When regional tensions disrupt aviation or maritime transport, the consequences can quickly reach Bangladeshi households. A worker unable to travel, a family waiting for remittances or a business facing higher fuel costs can all feel the effects of a crisis thousands of kilometres away.
Saudi Arabia’s importance also extends to Bangladesh’s energy security. The Kingdom is a major player in global oil markets, and instability in the Gulf can affect energy prices and supply conditions well beyond the region. Disruptions to shipping through strategically important waterways could intensify those pressures.
Estimates of bilateral remittances and the number of workers recruited each year illustrate the scale of this interdependence. Such figures should be verified against official data before being used to support specific policy claims. The broader conclusion, however, is clear: the welfare of Bangladeshi expatriates in Saudi Arabia is closely linked to the country’s economic resilience.
Solidarity with Riyadh, therefore, is not merely an expression of religious affinity. It is also an exercise in national responsibility.
Bangladesh has long embraced the diplomatic principle of “friendship to all, malice towards none”. Preserving that principle requires consistency and strategic clarity.
Dhaka has legitimate reasons to maintain constructive relations with Iran. Diplomatic engagement can help reduce misunderstandings, create opportunities for mediation and prevent regional rivalries from escalating into a wider confrontation. Bangladesh should not allow its relationship with Saudi Arabia to become a pretext for indiscriminate hostility towards the Iranian state or its people.
Balanced diplomacy, however, should not become an excuse for ambiguity when civilian lives and national sovereignty are threatened.
Where credible evidence establishes that Houthi attacks have targeted Saudi territory, Bangladesh should condemn them clearly and call for an immediate halt to actions that endanger civilians. It should also urge all parties with influence over armed groups to use that influence to prevent further escalation. Responsibility for specific attacks must be established on the basis of credible evidence rather than political assumptions.
This approach would allow Bangladesh to distinguish between maintaining diplomatic relations with Iran and endorsing the actions of armed groups operating in the region. The two are not the same.
Dhaka should also support diplomatic initiatives to reduce hostilities, protect civilian infrastructure and safeguard international navigation, including through the Red Sea and the Bab al-Mandab Strait. A wider conflict would impose severe costs on the region and on countries such as Bangladesh, which depend on stable energy markets and international trade.
The objective should not be to choose permanent enemies. It should be to defend national interests while keeping open every viable path towards de-escalation.
Bangladesh’s approach to the Middle East must ultimately be judged by its ability to protect its citizens and preserve its strategic autonomy.
First, the government should make the safety of Bangladeshi nationals in Saudi Arabia a central priority. This requires close coordination with Saudi authorities, contingency planning for emergencies, reliable communication with expatriate communities and arrangements to assist workers affected by flight disruptions or deteriorating security conditions.
Second, Dhaka should strengthen diplomatic coordination with Riyadh on labour rights, consular protection, energy supplies and the uninterrupted movement of migrant workers. A strategic partnership should deliver tangible benefits to citizens rather than merely produce statements of mutual goodwill.
Third, Bangladesh should maintain dialogue with Tehran and other regional actors, urging restraint and supporting credible efforts to end hostilities. Its diplomatic standing would be strengthened by a consistent message: attacks that threaten civilians, violate applicable international law or undermine regional stability cannot be justified by political grievances.
Fourth, the government should communicate transparently with the public. In an atmosphere of intense regional polarisation, misinformation and emotionally charged narratives can distort debate. Clear explanations of Bangladesh’s economic exposure, humanitarian concerns and diplomatic objectives would help ground public discussion in evidence rather than speculation.
Finally, Bangladesh must avoid allowing external rivalries to dictate its foreign policy. Its relationships with Saudi Arabia, Iran and other Middle Eastern states should be shaped by a consistent assessment of national interests, international obligations and opportunities for peaceful cooperation.
For the BNP and the government led by Tarique Rahman, a Bangladesh First approach should mean defending the safety and dignity of Bangladeshi citizens wherever they live, protecting the economic foundations of their livelihoods and ensuring that foreign policy remains guided by the country’s long-term interests.
That approach requires clarity in opposing attacks on Saudi territory, pragmatism in relations with Iran and sustained support for diplomatic efforts to prevent a wider regional war. It also requires rejecting the false choice between religious solidarity and peaceful coexistence.
Bangladesh can firmly support Saudi Arabia’s security without adopting an indiscriminately anti-Iranian posture. It can condemn attacks on civilians while supporting dialogue, mediation and de-escalation. And it can uphold the interests of the Muslim world without compromising its own sovereignty or economic security.
In the complex equation of the Bangladeshi street, these principles are not competing demands. They are interconnected responsibilities. The security of the Two Holy Mosques, the welfare of millions of expatriate workers and the protection of Bangladesh’s national interests must remain central to Dhaka’s calculations.
Ultimately, the measure of a foreign policy lies not in the intensity of its slogans but in the lives it protects, the interests it advances and the peace it helps preserve.
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***Dr Muhammad Enamul Haque Chowdhury is an adviser to BNP Chairman Tarique Rahman.