A total of 60,588 Bangladeshi pilgrims have returned home from Saudi Arabia as of Thursday after performing this year's Hajj, which took place on May 26, reports BSS.
According to the Hajj Office, 152 return flights have so far transported pilgrims back to Bangladesh. Of these, 76 flights were operated by Biman Bangladesh Airlines, 54 by Saudia Airlines and 22 by Flynas Airlines.
The Hajj Office said 4,319 pilgrims returned under government management, while 56,269 came back through private travel agencies.
Airline-wise statistics show that 26,868 pilgrims arrived on 76 flights operated by Biman Bangladesh Airlines, 21,045 on 54 Saudia Airlines flights, 8,672 on 21 Flynas flights, while another 4,003 pilgrims returned on other carriers.
Officials said the remaining pilgrims are expected to return gradually through the designated airlines before the end of the repatriation operation.
Meanwhile, 54 Bangladeshi pilgrims died in Saudi Arabia during the Hajj season. The deceased included 36 men and 18 women. Among them, 37 died in Makkah, 16 in Madinah and one in Jeddah.
No deaths were reported in Mina or Muzdalifah, according to the latest Hajj bulletin.
The bulletin also stated that 415 Bangladeshi pilgrims received treatment at various hospitals in Saudi Arabia, while 15 remained hospitalized. Saudi medical centres provided healthcare services to 66,249 pilgrims, and IT help desks assisted 28,198 pilgrims in Makkah and Madinah.
This year's Hajj operations began with the first outbound flight on April 18 and concluded on May 21.
Return flights started on May 30 and are scheduled to continue until July 1.
According to the Hajj Office, Bangladesh was allocated a quota of 78,500 pilgrims this year, including 4,565 under government management and 73,935 under private arrangements.
Bd-Pratidin English/ AM
