The Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport authority in Bangladesh capital on Sunday said that 54 flights to and from Middle Eastern countries were cancelled following the closure of regional airspace after US and Israeli attacks on Iran.

‘Fifty-four flights were cancelled as of 12:40pm on Sunday,’ HSIA Executive Director Raghib Samad, also a Group Captain of the Bangladesh Air Force, told New Age.

Hundreds of passengers were left stranded at the Dhaka airport amid uncertainty as flights were delayed or cancelled.

Rakibul Hasan, a Saudi Arabia-bound passenger of IndiGo, was seen waiting at Terminal 1 of the airport.

‘I arrived at the airport at 6:00am, although my flight is scheduled for 4:00pm. I have a transit in New Delhi and am now uncertain whether I will be able to reach my final destination,’ he said.

Mohammad Samir Uddin, a Dubai-bound passenger, said he came to the airport at 10:00am due to confusion over his flight status.

‘I heard that my scheduled 5:15pm flight was cancelled, but I could not get any further information,’ he said, adding that he was unable to obtain clear details from airport authorities.

Speaking to reporters at the airport, Expatriate Welfare, Labour and Employment Affairs Minister Ariful Haque Chowdhury said the government was monitoring the situation round the clock and providing full support to expatriates.

Responding to allegations that stranded passengers were not receiving food and accommodation, the minister said such claims were unfounded.

‘We have provided food and accommodation to 53 people,’ he said, adding that a hotline number had been opened for passengers seeking assistance.

Meanwhile, Biman Bangladesh Airlines announced that two flights to Madina and Jeddah would resume at 4:00pm and 7:00pm respectively.