42,342 Bangladeshi pilgrims reach Saudi Arabia

A total of 42,342 Bangladeshi Hajj pilgrims have so far reached Saudi Arabia through 106 Hajj flights.

Bangladesh Hajj Office Director Md Lokman Hossain said a total of 106 flights have landed in Jeddah as of 10am today (2 May). 

According to the Hajj bulletin, seven pilgrims have died so far due to natural causes, of whom five were in Makkah and two in Medina. 

It said that Saudi medical team provided treatment facilities to 8,015 pilgrims while IT Helpdesk gave medical services to 9,240.

He said a total of 78,500 people from Bangladesh have been allowed to perform Hajj this year. Of them, 660 agencies are handling Hajj operations under private management, including 30 lead agencies and 630 coordinating agencies.

According to airline-wise data, 20,036 pilgrims arrived on 49 flights of Biman Bangladesh Airlines, 14,820 on 38 flights of Saudi Airlines, and 7,486 on 19 flights of Flynas Airlines.

The remaining 36,004 pilgrims are expected to arrive gradually through designated airlines, the director added.

The first Hajj flight (BG3001), carrying 418 pilgrims, departed Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport on 17 April at 11:57pm for King Abdulaziz International Airport in Jeddah. The flight was inaugurated by Prime Minister Tarique Rahman.

Of the total pilgrims, 4,565 will perform Hajj under government management, while 73,935 will go under private arrangements, according to Hajj office.

The Saudi Embassy in Dhaka has issued a total of 78,346 visas so far, including 4,443 under government management and 73,903 under private management.

Subject to moon sighting, holy Hajj is expected to be held in Saudi Arabia on 26 May.
The return flight will depart from Jeddah on May 30, while the last return hajj flight on 30 June.