Bangladeshi pilgrims begin journey home as Hajj rituals conclude

Thousands of Bangladeshi pilgrims have begun returning home after completing the key rituals of Hajj 2026, marking the conclusion of one of the world's largest annual religious gatherings.

The main Hajj rites officially ended with pilgrims completing the symbolic stoning of the devil at the three Jamarat sites on Friday (May 29).

Following the completion of the rituals, return flights carrying Bangladeshi pilgrims started departing Saudi Arabia later that night.

According to the Ministry of Religious Affairs, the first return Hajj flight left King Abdulaziz International Airport at 12:10am (local time). The flight, operated by Saudia, marked the beginning of the official repatriation process for Bangladeshi pilgrims.

A total of 5,434 pilgrims are scheduled to return to Bangladesh on 13 flights on the first day alone. The return operation will continue until July 1.

The Hajj flight programme from Bangladesh began on April 17 with the inauguration of outbound services from Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport. The final flight carrying Bangladeshi pilgrims to Saudi Arabia arrived on May 21.

The Ministry of Religious Affairs said all major logistical arrangements—including accommodation, transportation contracts, tent allocations and visa processing—were completed within the timeline set by Saudi authorities.

Officials also coordinated closely with airlines to ensure smooth travel for pilgrims throughout the Hajj season.

According to the ministry, the extensive preparations helped ensure that all registered Bangladeshi pilgrims were able to travel to Saudi Arabia without any major disruptions or scheduling complications.

With the completion of the annual pilgrimage, attention has now shifted to the safe and orderly return of tens of thousands of pilgrims to Bangladesh over the coming weeks.