51,581 Bangladeshi pilgrims reach Saudi Arabia for hajj so far

A total of 51,581 Bangladeshi hajj pilgrims have reached Saudi Arabia through 132 flights as of 10:00am today, according to the Hajj Management Portal under the Ministry of Religious Affairs.

According to the latest hajj bulletin, 12 Bangladeshi pilgrims have died due to natural causes till yesterday.

Of the deceased, 10 were men and two were women. Ten pilgrims died in Makkah, while two died in Medina.

This year, a total of 78,500 Bangladeshis are expected to perform hajj. Of them, 4,565 pilgrims are travelling under government management, while 73,935 are going through private arrangements, according to ministry data.

A total of 660 agencies—30 lead agencies and 630 coordinating ones—are managing Hajj operations under private management.

According to airline-wise data, Biman Bangladesh Airlines transported 24,636 pilgrims on 62 flights, Saudi Airlines carried 18,479 pilgrims on 48 flights, and Flynas Airlines carried 8,454 pilgrims on 22 flights.

The remaining pilgrims are expected to reach Saudi Arabia gradually through the designated airlines, officials at Ashkona Hajj Camp said.

The first hajj flight departed Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport on April 17 for Jeddah.

Subject to moon sighting, the hajj is expected to be held in Saudi Arabia on May 26, while return flights are scheduled to begin on May 30.