50 stranded umrah pilgrims from Ishwardi return home from Saudi Arabia

Fifty Umrah pilgrims from Ishwardi in Pabna have returned to Bangladesh after being stranded in Saudi Arabia while trying to return home following their pilgrimage.

They arrived at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport in Dhaka via Qatar on Thursday evening (October 15). Each pilgrim had to pay an additional Tk 20,000 in airfare to return home via the alternative route.

Mohammad Raihan, the moallem (pilgrimage group leader), said they had been scheduled to return on Tuesday. However, flight operations were suspended following an attack on Saudi Arabia’s King Khalid International Airport, leaving them uncertain about when they could return home. After waiting for two days, arrangements were made for them to travel via Qatar on a Qatar Airways flight.

The delay also created difficulties in arranging accommodation in Saudi Arabia. Raihan said their accommodation had been booked in advance only until Tuesday. Finding alternative lodging after that proved challenging, particularly for those travelling with women, children and other family members. Several pilgrims fell ill during the wait and had to be admitted to a local hospital.

Ishwardi Upazila Nirbahi Officer (UNO) Hasan Mohammad Shoaib said the Pabna district administration had been regularly monitoring the situation of the pilgrims stranded in Saudi Arabia. He confirmed that all 50 returned home safely on Thursday evening.