29 Bangladeshi pilgrims die during Hajj amid Saudi heatwave

The number of Bangladeshi pilgrims who have died during this year's Hajj has risen to 29 amid a searing heatwave sweeping across Makkah and Madinah, according to the Ministry of Religious Affairs.

The ministry has urged devotees in Saudi Arabia to avoid going outdoors between 9am and 5pm in the two pilgrimage cities.

The tally of deaths rose when Rokeya Begum, 62, died in Makkah, as reported on Saturday. Originally from Barguna, she had arrived in the city on Jun 1 aboard a Saudia Airlines jet.

So far, 25 male and four female pilgrims from Bangladesh have died during Hajj this year. Of them, 19 died in Makkah, nine in Madinah, and one on Mount Arafat. In the Saudi public hospitals, 19 others are currently receiving treatment.

Although the main Hajj rites were held on Jun 5, many Bangladeshi pilgrims remain in Saudi Arabia.

In a safety advisory, the ministry warned of a surge in temperatures across Makkah and Madinah over the past few days.

The extreme heat has led to an increase in heat strokes and deaths. As a result, pilgrims have been requested to avoid any travel or visits to religious sites during the hottest hours of the day, from 9am to 5pm.

Despite the deaths, the ministry noted that the number of fatalities during Hajj this year is lower than in previous years. In 2024, a total of 65 Bangladeshi pilgrims died, after the tally had reached 121 in 2023.

Meanwhile, 20,500 devotees have returned home to Bangladesh following the completion of Hajj. Among them, 6,207 arrived via 16 flights operated by Biman Bangladesh Airlines, 7,873 on 20 Saudia Airlines flights, and 6,420 via 16 flights operated by Flynas.

This year, return flights from Saudi Arabia began on Jun 10 and will continue for a month until Jul 10.