A total of 87,157 Bangladeshi Hajj pilgrims including management team members have reached Saudi Arabia onboard 224 flights so far since April 29, officials said on Monday.
This year, Hajj will be held on Thursday, according to the Arabic lunar calendar.
Till Sunday night a total of 17 Hajj pilgrims passed away in Saudi Arabia due to old age or different health grounds, according to the Hajj Office Bulletin.
It said Secretary of the Ministry of Religious Affairs AKM Aftab Hossain Pramanik visited the Makkah Hajj Medical Centre on Sunday.
He inquired about the health conditions of the pilgrims and also advised the doctors on ensuring proper medical care for the pilgrims.
Pramanik expressed happiness for the issuance of automatic treatment cards to pilgrims through the management system.
A total of 87,100 Bangladeshis are set to perform Hajj this year while 5,200 are to perform the ritual under Bangladesh government arrangements while private operators would handle 81,900 pilgrims.
Director of the Hajj Office under the Ministry of Religious Affairs M Lokman Hossain said the number of Hajj agencies approved by the Ministry of Religious Affairs is 70.
He said Biman Bangladesh Airlines so far operated 108 flights carrying 42,404 pilgrims, Saudi Airlines conducted 83 flights with 31,676 pilgrims and Riyadh-based Flynas Airlines transported 13,077 pilgrims on 33 flights.
