Three Bangladeshi hajj pilgrims have so far been confirmed to have died in the stampede at Mina that claimed over 700 lives.
Among the three confirmed fatalities, only one – M Shahidul Islam from Khulna – has been positively identified. The identity of the two other victims remain unclear as of filing this report at 10pm, even though the Foreign Ministry is certain that the individuals are indeed Bangladeshi pilgrims.
The identification of Shahidul and the others was possible after the Saudi government yesterday released 650 photographs of the victims; the photos of the rest of victims are expected to be published by Saudi authorities today.
Many other Bangladeshi hajis, meanwhile, reportedly remain missing, while families of some of the missing persons have claimed their relatives had died during the stampede in Saudi Arabia.
In an initial press release yesterday, the Foreign Ministry misidentified one of the victims as Aminur Rahman from Savar; but they later issued a second release stating that Aminur’s family has contacted the ministry to let them know that the victim’s photo was not of Aminur.
Atiqur Rahman Asif, son of Aminur Rahman, also confirmed to the Dhaka Tribune that the body shown in the photo was not this father’s.
He said some of his uncles who were accompanying his father during hajj had informed him that the photo was not Aminur’s.
The haji from Savar, Aminur, along with his wife, has been missing since the stampede took place in Mina.
A Foreign Ministry press release said the family of hajji Firoza Khanam confirmed her death, even though her photo was not among those released by the Saudi government.
The families of five Bangladeshis claimed their relatives were killed in the stampede.
No response at hotlines
The Bangladesh Consulate General in Jeddah opened two telephone hotlines – 00966(0)537375859 and 00966(0)509360082 – for people to report missing pilgrims.
Relatives of missing pilgrims told the Dhaka Tribune that they failed to contact any of the hotlines despite repeated attempts: no one picked up the phone on the other end.
The Dhaka Tribune called the numbers several times yesterday between 5:00 and 5:30pm, but no one answered.
