43,773 Bangladeshi pilgrims reach Saudi Arabia

A total of 43,773 Bangladeshi Hajj pilgrims have so far reached Saudi Arabia by 110 Hajj flights to perform the holy Hajj this year.

Director of the Bangladesh Hajj Office, Md Lokman Hossain, said that 110 flights had landed in Jeddah by 10am today.

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

It said that the Saudi medical team provided treatment facilities to 9,175 pilgrims, while the IT Helpdesk provided medical services to 9,730 pilgrims.

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, 20,859 pilgrims arrived in Saudi Arabia by 51 flights of Biman Bangladesh Airlines, 15,088 by 39 flights of Saudi Airlines, and 7,826 by 20 flights of Flynas Airlines.

The remaining pilgrims 34,543 are expected to arrive gradually through designated airlines, the director added.

The first Hajj flight (BG3001), carrying 418 pilgrims, departed Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport at 11:57 pm on 17 April 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 information.

The Saudi Embassy in Dhaka has issued a total of 78,316 visas so far, including 4,445 under government management and 73,871 under private management.

Subject to moon sighting, the holy Hajj is expected to be held in Saudi Arabia on 26 May.

The return flight is expected to be started departing from Jeddah on 30 May, while the last return Hajj flight is on 30 June.