Sunahwar Ali:
The escalating Middle East conflict has tragically claimed innocent lives, including those of Bangladeshi migrant workers in the Gulf. On March 8, 2026, an aerial strike in Saudi Arabia’s Al-Kharj Governorate hit a residential compound, killing two Bangladeshi nationals—Mr. Bacchu Miah from Katiadi, Kishoreganj, and Mr. Mosharraf Hossain from Shakhipur, Tangail—along with an Indian national, and injuring others.
These workers were not soldiers; they were labourers building futures for their families while powering Bangladesh’s economy through remittances, which hit a record $32.8 billion in 2025. With over seven million Bangladeshis in the Gulf facing exploitative conditions and now heightened geopolitical risks, their sacrifices are immense.
As the former Chief Whip of Tower Hamlets Council, a veteran anti-racism campaigner from the 1978 Bengali struggles in East London, and an ongoing fighter against injustice and corruption, I am outraged by these civilian deaths amid the ongoing US-Israel-Iran tensions.
In the short term, remittances remain stable—some have even surged as anxious workers sent money home. However, a prolonged conflict risks job losses in construction and services, halted migration, wage cuts, and reduced inflows. According to warnings from economists and the Bangladesh Association of Banks, this could strain foreign reserves, inflate costs, and hit rural households the hardest.
The Bangladesh government has condemned the attacks and prioritized worker safety. The international community must enforce restraint, protect civilians, and pursue de-escalation to avert more bloodshed.
To Bangladeshi workers in the Gulf: Your resilience inspires us. Stay safe, and know that support exists, from London to Dhaka.
To the world:
End the cycle of violence—no more innocent lives should be lost.
Sunahwar Ali:
Former Chief Whip, Tower Hamlets Council
Anti-Racism, Anti-Injustice, and Anti-Corruption Campaigner
London-Dhaka
