Over 54,000 Bangladeshi Hajj Pilgrims Return Home; 50 Deaths Reported

A total of 54,323 Bangladeshi pilgrims have returned home on 123 return flights since the conclusion of this year’s Hajj, according to the Ministry of Religious Affairs' IT Helpdesk daily bulletin released on Friday (June 12).

Meanwhile, the death toll of Bangladeshi pilgrims in Saudi Arabia has risen to 50, comprising 33 men and 17 women. The latest casualty was identified as Sultana Razia Chowdhury, 67, from Sylhet Sadar, who passed away in Medina on June 11 under private Hajj management. Among the deceased, 35 died in Mecca, 14 in Medina, and one in Jeddah.

The return flights, which began on May 30, are being operated by Biman Bangladesh Airlines, Saudia, and Flynas. The repatriation process is scheduled to continue until June 30. Of the returned pilgrims, 4,313 traveled under government management, while 50,010 went through private agencies.

The Hajj bulletin also noted that 410 Bangladeshi pilgrims received medical attention at local hospitals in Saudi Arabia, with 18 currently remaining admitted for ongoing treatment.

This year, a total of 78,500 Bangladeshis performed the holy pilgrimage, including 4,565 under government packages and 73,935 via private arrangements. Outbound flights to Saudi Arabia ran from April 18 to May 21, ahead of the core Hajj rituals held on May 26.