"Bangladeshi migrants face uncertainty as Mideast war disrupts jobs, wages: RMMRU" 13 May 2026

Bangladeshi migrant workers in the Gulf region are facing growing uncertainty over jobs, safety, and future migration prospects because of the ongoing Middle East conflict, according to The Refugee and Migratory Movements Research Unit (RMMRU)...

The government has taken initiatives to bring back migrants from war-hit areas, including Iran, but their reintegration at home remains largely overlooked, said RMMRU founding chair Dr Tasneem Siddiqui, speaking at the press conference..."At least 5,000 Bangladeshis have already lost their jobs in Lebanon. Saudi companies have also reduced their workforce," said Dr Mohammad Rashed Alam Bhuiyan, associate professor of Political Science at Dhaka University..."

Workers are facing wage cuts, wage theft and rising inflation in Gulf countries since the conflict began," he added...He also noted the absence of a publicly communicated coordinated response plan, conflict-specific reintegration programmes, and emergency support systems for workers stranded abroad without income...At least 11 Bangladeshis have been killed in Gulf countries, while nearly 200 Bangladeshis have returned from Iran since the war began. Many of them are now struggling with debt and unemployment, according to the RMMRU...