"War threatens remittance lifeline"

Bangladesh’s overseas employment market faces growing risks of shrinking amid the war in the Middle East, the largest destination for migrant workers from the country…

Thousands of Bangladeshis, along with other Asian migrants, have already been affected as tourism, construction, and business activities slowed down across Gulf countries, according to migrants, recruiting agents, and researchers.

Many migrants report job losses and unpaid wages, while thousands of prospective workers are not being able to migrate. Nearly 900 flights bound for the Middle East had been cancelled since the US-Israel war on Iran began on February 28…

Ripon Bepari, a construction worker living on the outskirts of Beirut, has been unemployed since Israel began targeting Hezbollah installations in Lebanon.

“I have not received any salary for February and March, as my employer stopped work,” he told The Daily Star…

Surviving on $300 (about Tk 37,000) in savings, he said he can no longer send money home to his family in Netrokona.

“The government speaks about us when there is a remittance shortage. Then, they forget it. I expect our authorities to come to our support when we are in an emergency,” he added…