A total of 43,773 Bangladeshi Hajj pilgrims have reached Saudi Arabia so far through 110 flights to perform this year’s holy Hajj.
Director of the Bangladesh Hajj Office Md Lokman Hossain said 110 Hajj flights landed in Jeddah by 10am on Sunday.
According to the Hajj bulletin, seven pilgrims have died so far due to natural causes. Of them, five died in Makkah and two in Medina.
The bulletin said Saudi medical teams have provided treatment to 9,175 pilgrims, while IT Helpdesk services supported 9,730 pilgrims.
Officials said a total of 78,500 Bangladeshi pilgrims have been approved for Hajj this year. Of them, 660 agencies are managing Hajj operations under private arrangements, including 30 lead agencies and 630 coordinating agencies.
Airline-wise data shows that 20,859 pilgrims reached Saudi Arabia on 51 flights of Biman Bangladesh Airlines. Saudi Airlines carried 15,088 pilgrims on 39 flights, while Flynas Airlines transported 7,826 pilgrims on 20 flights.
The remaining 34,543 pilgrims are expected to arrive gradually through designated flights, the director added.
The first Hajj flight (BG3001) carrying 418 pilgrims departed Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport at 11:57pm on 17 April for King Abdulaziz International Airport in Jeddah. Prime Minister Tarique Rahman inaugurated the flight.
Of the total pilgrims, 4,565 are performing Hajj under government management, while 73,935 are going under private arrangements, according to Hajj office data.
The Saudi Embassy in Dhaka has issued 78,316 visas so far, including 4,445 under government management and 73,871 under private management.
Subject to moon sighting, the holy Hajj is expected to take place in Saudi Arabia on 26 May.
Return Hajj flights are expected to begin on 30 May from Jeddah, while the last return flight is scheduled for 30 June.
