First death among Hajj pilgrims this year as 13,000 Bangladeshis arrive in Saudi Arabia

The first death has been registered among this year’s Bangladeshi Hajj pilgrims.

The information was provided in the latest bulletin from the Ministry of Religious Affairs’ Hajj Affairs Portal

The victim was identified as Md Khalilur Rahman, a 70-year-old resident of Ramkal Bahadurpur village in Rajbari’s Pangsha Upazila.

He had arrived in Saudi Arabia’s Madinah aboard Biman Bangladesh Airlines flight BG-3401.

A total of 13,191 pilgrims from Bangladesh have arrived in Saudi Arabia so far, according to the bulletin.

Of them, 3,738 travelled to the country on the government’s travel package, while the remaining 9,453 went on private travel packages.

They travelled to the kingdom on board 14 Biman flights, nine Saudia Airlines flights and nine Flynas flights.

The pre-Hajj flights began on Tuesday, Apr 29 and will continue until May 31.

The return flights begin Jun 10 and will continue until Jul 10.

A total of 87,100 pilgrims from Bangladesh have registered for the Hajj trips this year. Of them, 5,200 will travel on government packages, while the remaining 81,900 will travel on private packages.

So far, 70,814 pilgrims have received their visas, the Ministry of Religious Affairs says.

The Hajj may begin on Jun 5, subject to the sighting of the moon. This year, a total of 70 travel agencies are arranging Hajj flights.