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Razedul Karim Siddiquee Nishad, a German expatriate of Bangladeshi descent, had arrived at Abu Dhabi Airport to catch a Bangladesh Airlines flight to Dhaka after learning of the critical condition of his brother-in-law, who had been fighting a severe illness. What should have been a routine journey to his homeland to say goodbye to a loved one, instead turned into a nightmare due to the incompetence and negligence of the airline staff.
Nishad, who had already purchased his ticket, encountered a shocking roadblock when he went to the check-in counter. Despite having all the necessary documentation and a confirmed booking, the airline staff claimed that there was no record of his name in their system. A man already dealing with the crushing weight of family loss found himself facing more stress and humiliation. Even after presenting proof of his ticket and trying to explain the urgency of his situation, the airline staff refused to assist him, with one official dismissing him rudely.
“I tried every way to make them understand. I even showed them proof of my ticket and explained my brother-in-law’s critical condition, but they were unyielding. One official told me, ‘Do I have to teach you my job?'” Nishad recounts, still visibly frustrated by the lack of empathy shown by the airline employees.
As the hours dragged on and his attempts to resolve the issue failed, Nishad found himself stranded in a foreign airport in the middle of the night, far from his family. It wasn’t until he contacted a local acquaintance that he managed to find a way out—he had to buy another ticket on a different airline, taking a 150 km taxi ride to Dubai Airport and catching a late-night flight to Dhaka. However, by the time he reached his home in Tangail, his brother-in-law’s funeral was already over.
The story of his mistreatment did not end with his arrival in Dhaka. Once back in Bangladesh, Nishad approached the Bangladesh Airlines office to complain. After hours of waiting, he was finally told that his ticket had indeed been in their system all along. Despite being promised assistance, no one in Abu Dhabi had made any effort to check properly, and the airline’s staff continued to mistreat him.
His grief turned to anger as he realized that not only had he missed his chance to say goodbye to his brother-in-law, but he had also been subjected to unnecessary humiliation at the hands of those who were meant to help him in a time of distress. “This is not just my personal tragedy but an embarrassment for all the expatriates who work tirelessly abroad and still face this kind of treatment from our national airline,” Nishad lamented.
In addition to the emotional toll of missing his brother-in-law’s funeral, Nishad also discovered that his luggage had been tampered with upon arrival in Dhaka, with items stolen from it. Such incidents, he noted, have unfortunately become all too common at the Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport in Dhaka.
Nishad is now demanding an investigation into the incident and holding the responsible airline staff accountable for their actions. He is seeking 100 crore taka (approximately $9 million) in compensation for the emotional distress and loss caused by the airline’s negligence.
In the wake of this harrowing experience, Nishad’s story has gained widespread attention, with many others expressing sympathy and support. It has also sparked a conversation about the systemic problems in Bangladesh Airlines, with some even calling for a boycott. Nishad’s case, however, highlights a much deeper issue—how a lack of professionalism, empathy, and accountability within national institutions can affect the lives of individuals already facing personal hardship.
As he continues to fight for justice, Nishad hopes that no one else will have to endure the same unbearable pain and humiliation that he experienced during one of the most difficult times in his life. His story is a stark reminder of how the failure of an institution can leave lasting scars on those it fails to serve.
