Over 54,000 Bangladeshi pilgrims reach Saudi Arabia for Hajj, 9 deaths reported

As of now, a total of 54,497 Bangladeshi pilgrims have reached Saudi Arabia to perform Hajj this year, while nine deaths have been reported during the pilgrimage.

According to the latest Hajj bulletin issued by the Ministry of Religious Affairs, these pilgrims travelled on 141 flights in total.

Of the flights, Biman Bangladesh Airlines took 27,378 pilgrims across 73 flights, Saudia Airlines carried 18,491 pilgrims via 47 flights, and Flynas Airlines brought 8,628 pilgrims on 21 flights.

Among the pilgrims, 4,583 travelled under the government-managed Hajj programme, while 49,914 went under private arrangements.

This year’s pre-Hajj flights began on Apr 29, and are scheduled to continue until May 31. Return flights will commence on Jun 10 and continue for a month until Jul 10.

A total of 87,100 pilgrims from Bangladesh registered to perform Hajj this year. The Ministry of Religious Affairs has confirmed that all registered pilgrims have now received their visas.

Of the registered pilgrims, 81,900 applied through private Hajj operators, while 5,200 registered under the government’s quota.

The ministry also confirmed that nine Bangladeshi pilgrims have died so far this year while performing Hajj.

The most recent death occurred on Monday, when 63-year-old A Hannan Mollah from Chandpur passed away in Makkah. He was travelling under the government scheme and had arrived in Saudi Arabia on Apr 30 via a Biman Bangladesh Airlines flight.

Of the dead pilgrims, eight were men and one was a woman. Four of them died in Makkah and five in Madinah.

This year, 70 lead agencies approved by the ministry are overseeing the Hajj operations. Depending on the sighting of the moon, Hajj is likely to be held on Jun 5.