Nearly 50,000 BD Hajj pilgrims return

A total of 49,982 Bangladeshi Hajj pilgrims have returned home from Saudi Arabia as of Wednesday after the completion of this year’s Hajj held on May 26, officials said.

According to the Hajj office, 116 return flights operated by Biman Bangladesh Airlines, Saudia Airlines and Flynas Airlines brought the pilgrims back. Of them, 4,289 returned under government management while 45,693 came through private travel agencies.

This year, 49 Bangladeshi pilgrims died in Saudi Arabia during Hajj-35 in Makkah, 13 in Madinah and one in Jeddah.

Officials also said 401 pilgrims received treatment at Saudi hospitals, while 25 were hospitalized. In addition, Saudi medical centres provided treatment to 61,473 pilgrims and IT help desks served 27,315 others in Makkah and Madinah. The Hajj return flights, which began on May 30, will continue until July 1.