Staff Reporter:
A total of 39,398 Bangladeshi Hajj pilgrims have so far reached in Saudi Arabia by 98 Hajj flights to perform the holy Hajj this year.
Director of the Bangladesh Hajj Office Md Lokman Hossain said that 98 flights had landed so far in Jeddah by 10:00am today.
According to hajj bulletin, seven pilgrims have died so far due to natural causes. Of them, five died in Makkah and two in Medina.
It said that Saudi medical team provided treatment facilities to 5,486 pilgrims while IT Helpdesk gave medical services to 8,580 pilgrims.
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, 18,173 pilgrims arrived in Saudia Arabia by 44 flights of Biman Bangladesh Airlines, 14,083 by 36 flights of Saudi Airlines, and 7,142 by 18 flights of Flynas Airlines.
The remaining pilgrims 38,938 are expected to arrive gradually through designated airlines, 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. 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 78,297 visas so far, including 4,419 under government management and 73,878 under private management.
Subject to moon sighting, holy Hajj is expected to be held in Saudi Arabia on 26 May.
The return flight is expected to be started departing from Jeddah on 30 May, while the last return hajj flight on 30 June.
