A total of 44,955 Bangladeshi pilgrims have arrived in Saudi Arabia to perform Hajj this year, according to the latest bulletin from the Ministry of Religious Affairs released on Monday morning.
The pilgrims travelled on 113 flights operated under both government and private arrangements. Of them, 4,071 went under government management, while 40,884 travelled through private arrangements.
Biman Bangladesh Airlines carried the highest number of pilgrims, transporting 21,301 passengers on 52 flights. Saudi Airlines operated 41 flights carrying 15,425 pilgrims, while Flynas transported 8,229 pilgrims on 20 flights.
The bulletin also confirmed that seven Bangladeshi pilgrims have died in Saudi Arabia so far during the ongoing Hajj season. All the deceased were men, with five deaths reported in Mecca and two in Medina. The latest death occurred on 28 April, when Mohammad Shamsul Alam, 63, from Kotwali Metro area in Rangpur, passed away.
Subject to the sighting of the moon, Hajj is expected to take place on 26 May this year.
A total of 78,500 Bangladeshi pilgrims are expected to perform Hajj this year, including 4,565 under government management and 73,935 under private arrangements.
Return flights are scheduled to begin on 30 May from Jeddah and will continue throughout June, with the final return flight expected on 30 June.
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