A total of 56,659 Bangladeshi Hajj pilgrims have so far reached Saudi Arabia to perform Hajj this year, according to the Ministry of Religious Affairs.
Of them, 4,444 travelled under government management, while 52,215 arrived through private Hajj agencies, according to a bulletin issued by the Hajj Management Portal under the ministry at 3am on Friday.
So far, 146 flights have transported Bangladeshi pilgrims to Saudi Arabia, including 72 operated by Biman Bangladesh Airlines, 52 by Saudia and 22 by Flynas.
Among the carriers, Biman transported 28,448 pilgrims, Saudia carried 19,352 and Flynas flew 8,859 pilgrims to the kingdom.
Officials said the final flight carrying Hajj pilgrims under government management landed safely in Saudi Arabia on Thursday.
The first Hajj flight from Bangladesh departed on April 18, while the final outbound flight is scheduled for May 21.
Return flights are scheduled to begin on May 30 and continue until June 30.
Meanwhile, 14 Bangladeshi pilgrims have died in Saudi Arabia so far. Of them, 10 were men and four were women. Eleven deaths were reported in Makkah and three in Madinah.
The latest death was recorded on May 12, when Nasrin Jahan, 37, from Gazipur, died of natural causes.
Under this year’s arrangement, Bangladesh has a quota of 4,565 pilgrims under government management and 73,935 under private management.
Subject to moon sighting, Hajj is scheduled to be held on May 26.