A total of 87,157 Bangladeshi Hajj pilgrims, including members of the Hajj management team, have arrived in Saudi Arabia as of June 1. The pilgrims reached the Kingdom through 224 flights that began operating on April 29.
This year, the holy Hajj will take place on June 5, according to the Arabic lunar calendar. As preparations intensify ahead of the sacred ritual, the Hajj Office in Makkah confirmed that 17 Bangladeshi pilgrims have passed away so far in Saudi Arabia. The deaths were attributed to old age and health complications, reports BSS.
Secretary of the Ministry of Religious Affairs, AKM Aftab Hossain Pramanik, visited the Makkah Hajj Medical Centre recently to check on the condition of the Bangladeshi pilgrims. During his visit, he advised doctors to ensure proper medical care and expressed satisfaction over the introduction of automatic treatment cards issued through the Hajj management system.
A total of 87,100 Bangladeshi pilgrims are expected to perform Hajj this year. Of them, 5,200 are performing Hajj under government arrangements, while 81,900 are travelling through private operators. The Ministry of Religious Affairs has approved 70 Hajj agencies for this year’s pilgrimage.
According to the Hajj Office, Biman Bangladesh Airlines has operated 108 flights carrying 42,404 pilgrims. Saudi Airlines transported 31,676 pilgrims through 83 flights, while Riyadh-based Flynas Airlines carried 13,077 pilgrims on 33 flights.
Director of the Hajj Office, M Lokman Hossain, stated that the Saudi Embassy in Dhaka issued visas for all Bangladeshi pilgrims in coordination with the Hajj authorities. Meanwhile, Hajj officials in Makkah distributed maps of Mina and Arafat, created by the Mecca IT Helpdesk, to help pilgrims navigate the key ritual sites.
At present, 172 Bangladeshi pilgrims have received treatment in Saudi government hospitals, with 37 currently admitted.
The first Hajj flight departed from Dhaka’s Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport on April 29, carrying 398 pilgrims. Return flights for Bangladeshi pilgrims are scheduled to begin on June 10 and continue until July 10.