56,868 Bangladeshi Hajis return home

A total of 56,868 Bangladeshi Hajj pilgrims have returned home from Saudi Arabia as of Sunday, following the completion of this year’s Hajj held on May 26.

A total of 134 return flights were operated by three designated carriers 63 by Biman Bangladesh Airlines, 50 by Saudi Airlines, and 21 by Flynas Airlines an official said.

The Hajj office said 4,313 pilgrims returned under government management, while 52,555 returned under private travel agencies in the 134 flights.

In addition, 52 Bangladeshi pilgrims died in Saudi Arabia during this year’s Hajj, including 35 men and 17 women. Of them, 37 died in Makkah, 14 in Madinah, and one in Jeddah. No deaths were reported in Mina or Muzdalifah.

According to the Hajj bulletin, 415 pilgrims received treatment at various hospitals in Saudi Arabia due to illness, while 16 were hospitalised. Saudi medical centres provided treatment to 64,149 pilgrims, while the IT help desk assisted 27,890 pilgrims in Makkah and Madinah.

This year’s Hajj operations began with the first outbound flight on April 18 and concluded on May 21. Return flights started on May 30 and are scheduled to continue until July 1.