70,756 Bangladeshi pilgrims reach Saudi Arabia

A total of 70,756 Bangladeshi Hajj pilgrims have so far reached in Saudi Arabia through 182 Hajj flights. Director of the Bangladesh Hajj Office Md Lokman Hossain said that 182nd  flight has landed in Jeddah by 10am today. According to hajj bulletin, 18 pilgrims died so far due to natural causes till yesterday. Of them, 13 are male and five female. 13 were died in Makkah and five in Medina.

It said that Saudi medical team provided treatment facilities to 38,864 pilgrims while IT Helpdesk gave medical services to 18,894 till yesterday. He said a total of 78,500 people from Bangladesh have been allowed 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, Biman Bangladesh Airlines carried 36,835 pilgrims arrived on 93 flights, Saudi Airlines transported 25,045 on 66 flights and 8,876 on 23 flights of Flynas Airlines.

The remaining pilgrims 7,634 are expected to arrive gradually through designated airlines, the director added. “The last Hajj flight will be operated on May 21. The first return flight from Jeddah on May 30, while the last return hajj flight on June 30,” Lokman said. The first Hajj flight (BG3001), carrying 418 pilgrims, departed 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 issued a total of 78,390 visas so far, including 4,465 under government management and 73,925 under private management. Subject to moon sighting, holy Hajj is expected to be held in Saudi Arabia on May 26.