More Than 50,000 Bangladeshi Pilgrims Arrive in Saudi Arabia for Hajj

A total of 50,904 Bangladeshi pilgrims have arrived in Saudi Arabia on 130 Hajj flights as of Sunday to perform the holy Hajj this year, according to the Bangladesh Hajj Office.

Director of the Bangladesh Hajj Office, Md. Lokman Hossain, said that a total of 130 Hajj flights had been operated to Jeddah until 10:00 am on Sunday.

According to the Hajj bulletin, 12 Bangladeshi pilgrims have died so far this year. Among them, 10 were men and two were women. Of the deceased, 10 died in Makkah and two in Madinah.

The bulletin also stated that the Saudi medical team had provided treatment to 21,014 Bangladeshi pilgrims until Saturday, while the IT helpdesk had assisted 13,780 pilgrims.

Officials said that a total of 78,500 Bangladeshis have been granted permission to perform Hajj this year. Of them, 4,565 pilgrims are traveling under government management, while 73,935 are performing Hajj under private management.

A total of 660 agencies are involved in Hajj operations this year, including 30 lead agencies and 630 coordinating agencies.

According to airline-wise data, Biman Bangladesh Airlines has transported 23,960 pilgrims on 60 flights so far, while Saudia Airlines carried 18,488 pilgrims on 48 flights. Flynas Airlines transported another 8,456 pilgrims through 22 flights.

The remaining 27,469 pilgrims are expected to arrive in Saudi Arabia gradually through scheduled flights in the coming days, the Hajj Office director added.

Earlier, the first Hajj flight (BG3001) departed from Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport for King Abdulaziz International Airport in Jeddah on April 17 at 11:57 pm Bangladesh time, carrying 418 pilgrims. The inaugural flight was officially launched by Prime Minister Tarek Rahman.

The Saudi Embassy in Dhaka has so far issued 78,373 Hajj visas, including 4,454 under government management and 73,919 under private management.

Subject to moon sighting, the holy Hajj is expected to be held on May 26 this year. Following the completion of Hajj rituals, return flights from Jeddah are scheduled to begin on May 30 and continue until June 30.