Over 68,000 Bangladeshi hajj pilgrims return home, death toll reaches 55

More than 68,000 Bangladeshi pilgrims have returned home after performing this year's Hajj in Saudi Arabia, while the death toll among Bangladeshi pilgrims has risen to 55, according to the latest official Hajj bulletin.

As of Friday (June 26), a total of 68,297 pilgrims had arrived in Bangladesh on 188 return flights. Of them, 4,459 travelled under the government Hajj scheme, while 63,838 returned through private Hajj agencies.

The bulletin, released on Saturday (June 27), said Biman Bangladesh Airlines operated 102 return flights, Saudia Airlines 63, and Flynas 23.

Airline-wise, Biman transported 31,981 pilgrims, Saudia brought back 23,149, and Flynas carried 8,967. Another 4,200 pilgrims returned on other airlines.

The bulletin also confirmed that 55 Bangladeshi pilgrims died during this year's Hajj. Of them, 37 died in Makkah, 17 in Madinah, and one in Jeddah. No deaths of Bangladeshi pilgrims were reported in Mina or Muzdalifah, the two key Hajj ritual sites.

Health authorities said 415 Bangladeshi pilgrims received treatment at hospitals across Saudi Arabia, while 11 remained admitted. Saudi medical centres provided healthcare services to 67,086 Bangladeshi pilgrims during the pilgrimage.

Meanwhile, IT help desks established in Makkah and Madinah assisted 28,405 pilgrims by providing information and technical support throughout the Hajj season.

Officials said the remaining Bangladeshi pilgrims will return home in phases according to the scheduled flight plan.

Bangladesh's outbound Hajj flights began on April 18, with pre-Hajj operations concluding on May 21. This year's Hajj was performed on May 26, while return flights started on May 30 and are scheduled to continue until July 1.