Bangladesh completes Hajj airlift

A total of 77,432 Bangladeshi pilgrims have travelled to Saudi Arabia on 199 pre-Hajj flights to perform this year’s holy Hajj, according to officials.

Md Lokman Hossain, director of the Bangladesh Hajj Office, said 4,464 pilgrims went under government management, while the rest travelled through private arrangements.

He said 660 agencies were involved in private Hajj operations, including 30 lead agencies and 630 coordinating agencies.

According to the latest Hajj bulletin, 21 Bangladeshi pilgrims — 15 men and six women — have died of natural causes so far. Among them, 14 died in Makkah and seven in Madinah.

Officials said pre-Hajj flight operations have now concluded, with Biman Bangladesh Airlines, Saudi Airlines and Flynas transporting all pilgrims to Saudi Arabia.

Biman operated 98 flights carrying 38,702 pilgrims, while Saudi Airlines transported 27,340 pilgrims on 73 flights. Flynas carried 11,390 pilgrims on 28 flights to Jeddah and Madinah.

Saudi medical teams have so far provided healthcare services to 43,440 pilgrims, while IT helpdesks assisted 20,288 pilgrims, the bulletin added.

The first Hajj flight departed Dhaka on April 17 carrying 418 pilgrims to Jeddah.
This year’s Hajj is expected to be observed in Saudi Arabia on May 26, subject to moon sighting.

Bangladeshi pilgrims are scheduled to start returning home from May 30, with the final return flight set for June 30.