75,530 Bangladeshi pilgrims reach Saudi Arabia

A total of 75,530 Bangladeshi pilgrims have so far arrived in Saudi Arabia to perform Hajj this year.

Director of the Bangladesh Hajj Office Md Lokman Hossain said 194 Hajj flights carrying Bangladeshi pilgrims had landed in Jeddah by 10am today.

According to the latest Hajj bulletin, 18 Bangladeshi pilgrims died of natural causes till yesterday. Among them, 13 were men and five were women. Of the deceased, 13 died in Makkah and five in Madinah.

The bulletin said Saudi medical teams provided treatment to 40,860 pilgrims automatically, while the IT Helpdesk rendered medical services to 19,567 pilgrims till yesterday.

This year, a total of 78,500 Bangladeshis are scheduled to perform Hajj. Of them, 4,565 pilgrims are going under government management, while 73,935 are performing Hajj through private arrangements.

A total of 660 agencies are involved in Hajj management under the private sector, including 30 lead agencies and 630 coordinating agencies.

According to airline-wise data, 38,401 pilgrims travelled on 97 flights operated by Biman Bangladesh Airlines, while 26,981 pilgrims arrived on 71 flights of Saudi Airlines and 10,148 pilgrims on 26 flights operated by Flynas Airlines.

The remaining 2,858 pilgrims are expected to reach Saudi Arabia gradually through the designated airlines, Lokman Hossain added.

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

According to Hajj office data, the Embassy of Saudi Arabia in Dhaka has so far issued 78,388 visas, including 4,465 for pilgrims under government management and 73,923 under private management.

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

Pilgrims are scheduled to start returning home from May 30, while the final return Hajj flight is set for 30 June.