Over 74,000 pilgrims reached Saudi for Hajj till today

A total of 74,247 Bangladeshi Hajj pilgrims have reached Saudi Arabia by 192 Hajj flights till 10:00 am today since April 29 while the last Hajj flight to take off with pilgrims from Dhaka on May 31, official sources said here today.

“A total of 87,100 Bangladeshis are set to perform the holy Hajj this year while 5,200 are to perform the ritual under Bangladesh government arrangements while private operators would handle 81,900 pilgrims,” Director Hajj Office under the Religious Affairs Ministry M Lokman Hossain said.

He said three Biman Bangladesh Airlines flights with 1,257 Hajj pilgrims, one Saudi Airlines flight with 404 pilgrims and four Flynas Airlines flights with 1,540 pilgrims left or would leave Bangladesh today for Jeddah.

The last flight with the pilgrims is scheduled to reach Saudi Arabia on May 31.

Lokman Hossain said the ministry was issuing regular Hajj bulletin with the latest one announcing deaths of 12 pilgrims after reaching Saudi Arabia due to old age or different health related complications in the past several days.

Until now, Biman Bangladesh Airlines so far operated 98 flights carrying 37,746 pilgrims, Saudi Airlines conducted 71 flights with 27,128 pilgrims and Riyadh-based Flynas Airlines transported 8,373 pilgrims in its 23 flights.

The Hajj office bulletin said according to the aviation plan Bangladesh Airlines would operate 118 Hajj flights, Saudi Airlines 80 flights and 34 by Flynas flights for the pilgrims.

According to the officials, remaining 12,752 pilgrims will reach Saudi Arabia by May 31.

The first Hajj flight with 398 Hajj pilgrims departed from Dhaka’s Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport on April 29.

The Hajj this year is expected to take place on June 5 but the date could differ over the sighting of in line with the Arabic lunar calendar.

The return flights with the Hajis are set to commence on June 10 and conclude on July 10, the officials added.