Eid spirit firm despite war and worries

At Gabtoli bus terminal and Kamalapur railway station, the familiar pre-Eid surge is in full swing. Buses and trains are packed, journeys are long and uncomfortable, and ticket prices are steep.

Yet, as always, people are going home. For Eid, that remains non-negotiable.

This year, however, the rush carries an undercurrent of unease.

Beyond the crush of passengers and the chaos of departure halls lies a quieter anxiety — about a conflict unfolding thousands of miles away in the Middle East, 
and what it could mean for life in Bangladesh.

Will a distant war disrupt the return to work after the holidays? Could fuel shortages worsen? And if the conflict drags on, what happens to the country's energy supply?

As Eid-ul-Fitr approaches, these questions no longer feel abstract.

The ongoing conflict involving the United States, Israel and Iran is already rippling through Bangladesh's economy, unsettling what is typically a season of joy, shopping, travel and family reunions.

In recent weeks, fuel shortages triggered by supply disruptions forced the government to briefly ration petroleum, sparking anxiety among consumers. 

Although the decision was withdrawn ahead of Eid, long queues at filling stations remain a common sight at a time usually marked by ease and celebration.

Life must go on

Even so, the journeys continue.

Md Rakib, a private car driver, sent his wife and child to their home in Barishal a week earlier. He followed later, paying Tk800 for a bus ticket that usually costs Tk500.

"We have to go home anyway, no matter how much it costs," he said, brushing aside concerns about the war.

For others, the anxiety lies elsewhere.

Moshiur Rahman, an insurance executive, is travelling home by renting a car for Tk10,000. While the cost does not trouble him, the return journey does.

"If fuel shortages worsen, coming back to Dhaka could be difficult," he said.

Saiful Islam, a banker, faces a different problem. A regular traveller during Eid, he could not secure a return ticket this time, an experience he says is unprecedented.

Yet the deeper concern lies beyond transport disruptions.

Eid and an uncertain future

Nearly five million Bangladeshi families depend on remittances from the Middle East. Countries such as Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates - home to millions of Bangladeshi workers - remain exposed to the unfolding conflict. For many families, Eid this year comes with lingering uncertainty over jobs, incomes and financial stability.

Data from Bangladesh Bank shows remittance inflows surged 35.7% to $2.20 billion in the first 14 days of March compared to the same period a year earlier, driven by Eid-related transfers. Cumulative remittances from July to 14 March reached $24.65 billion, a 22.6% increase over the corresponding period of the previous fiscal year.

But analysts caution against optimism.

"If the war prolongs, the impact could be devastating - not only on remittances but on the overall economy," said Marina Sultana, director, programme of the Refugee and Migratory Movements Research Unit (RMMRU).

She pointed to the case of Iqbal Hossain, a Bangladeshi worker in Saudi Arabia, whose income has fallen sharply as operations at his supply company slowed due to the conflict. Back home in Cumilla, his family now faces growing uncertainty.

Wary government

The government, too, is watching developments closely.

Expatriates' Welfare and Overseas Employment Minister Ariful Haque Chowdhury recently acknowledged that the war could affect remittance inflows, although he said steps are being taken to support migrant workers.

Remittances remain a lifeline for Bangladesh's economy and a key source of foreign exchange. As of February, gross reserves stood at $34.54 billion, while net reserves, calculated under the IMF's BPM-6 method, were $29.86 billion.

Globally, the conflict is pushing up energy prices and adding fresh uncertainty to an already fragile economic landscape. Rising inflation and the risk of weakening demand in key export markets, particularly garments, pose additional challenges.

The war shows little sign of easing. If it drags on, concerns over fuel and gas supply could deepen, with direct implications for Bangladesh's energy security and industrial output.

Still, amid the uncertainty, the rhythm of life endures.

Eid preparations continue. People keep travelling. Families reunite.

But this year, the celebrations carry a quiet awareness: in an interconnected world, even distant wars can feel uncomfortably close to home.