53,842 Bangladeshi pilgrims reach Saudi Arabia

A total of 53,842 Bangladeshi Hajj pilgrims have so far reached Saudi Arabia on 138 Hajj flights.

Director of the Bangladesh Hajj Office Md Lokman Hossain said 138 flights had landed in Jeddah by 10am today (13 May).

According to the Hajj bulletin, 13 pilgrims had died due to natural causes till yesterday. Of them, 10 were male and three were female. Among the deceased, 11 died in Makkah and two in Madinah.

It said the Saudi medical team had provided treatment to 26,034 pilgrims, while the IT Helpdesk had provided medical services to 15,620 pilgrims till yesterday (12 May).

He said a total of 78,500 people from Bangladesh have been permitted 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, 26,280 pilgrims arrived on 66 flights operated by Biman Bangladesh Airlines, 19,106 on 50 flights of Saudi Airlines, and 8,456 on 22 flights of Flynas Airlines.

The remaining 24,535 pilgrims are expected to travel gradually through the designated airlines, the director added.

The first Hajj flight (BG3001), carrying 418 pilgrims, departed from 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 information.

The Saudi Embassy in Dhaka has so far issued a total of 78,377 visas, including 4,454 under government management and 73,923 under private management.

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

The return flights will begin from Jeddah on 30 May, while the last return Hajj flight is scheduled for 30 June.