Missiles, fear and falling incomes: Bangladeshi migrants in Middle East say they are 'living in terror'
For many, returning home is a luxury they cannot afford, not with unpaid loans, sick parents relying on them, and children dependent on the remittances they send each month.
As tensions escalate in the Middle East amid the intensifying war between Iran and Israel, thousands of migrant workers from Bangladesh across the region are battling fear, uncertainty and shrinking incomes.
Five migrants from Cumilla told the Refugee and Migratory Movements Research Unit (RMMRU) that their daily lives are now marked by the constant sound of missiles, anxious families back home, and the painful choice between safety and survival.
For many, returning home is a luxury they cannot afford, not with unpaid loans, sick parents relying on them, and children dependent on the remittances they send each month.
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'Every missile sound feels like the end of my life'
Nasir, a migrant worker based in Dubai in the United Arab Emirates, said the ongoing conflict has left him feeling helpless.
He works for a Chinese company and lives in a labour camp close to an American military base.
"Every few minutes, we hear the sound of missiles. My chest shakes in fear. It feels like life could end at any moment," he said.
His family in Chandina, Cumilla, remains in constant panic. He wants to return home, but doing so would mean giving up everything – his job, visa and only source of income.
"I am risking my life in a foreign country just to support my family," he added.
Income collapsing as fear grows
Saiful Islam, who lives in Jeddah in Saudi Arabia, said the conflict has destroyed his livelihood.
He used to work as a driver and could send Tk80,000 to Tk90,000 home each month. Now, with work scarce, he has taken a job in a restaurant and struggles to send even Tk30,000.
His family in Cumilla continues to worry about his safety, but he said returning home is not possible as he still carries nearly Tk8 lakh in debt.
"I live near the American embassy. I am always scared something may happen at any moment," he said.
Another migrant, Nasir Uddin, said his work in Saudi Arabia has almost stopped because of the war.
A bomb exploded about 10 minutes away from where he was staying a few days ago, killing several people. Since then, the fear has only grown stronger.
Before the conflict, he could send around Tk50,000 home every month. Now he struggles even to cover his own living expenses, putting additional financial pressure on his family.
Iqbal Hossain, who works for a supply company in Saudi Arabia, said his income has also collapsed.
He previously earned nearly Tk1 lakh per month, but work has now almost stopped.
"I stay inside the room most of the time. It feels like we are trapped," he said.
Back home, his family lives in constant anxiety, fearing the worst every day.
'I want to return, but I can't'
Mehedi Hasan, another migrant worker in Saudi Arabia, said he wants to return home but simply cannot afford to do so.
Bound by a sick father and heavy debts back home, he said quitting his job would be a financial death sentence for his family. "Even if my life is at risk, I have no choice but to stay," he said.
His wife, Tahmina Karim, who lives in Cumilla with their two children, said the family lives with constant fear.
"I am always terrified. But we have nothing in the country to survive on. That is why he is forced to stay there risking his life," she said.
