Dhaka: A total of nine Bangladeshi Hajj pilgrims have died in Saudi Arabia so far, says the Ministry of Religious Affairs. Of the deceased, eight were men and one was a woman, according to a bulletin issued by the Hajj Management Portal under the ministry at 3:00am on Tuesday. Among them, seven pilgrims died in Makkah, while the remaining two passed away in Madinah. The latest death was reported on Monday when Mahfuza Begum, 52, from the Sadar area of Chapainawabganj district, died after suffering a cardiac arrest.
According to United News of Bangladesh, a total of 46,514 Bangladeshi pilgrims have so far arrived in Saudi Arabia to perform Hajj this year. Of them, 4,071 traveled under government management, while 42,443 arrived through private Hajj agencies. A total of 118 flights have transported these Bangladeshi pilgrims to Saudi Arabia. Of the total flights, Biman Bangladesh Airlines operated 54, Saudia 43, and Flynas operated 21 flights. Biman transported 21,910 pilgrims, while Saudia carried 16,110, and Flynas transported 8,494 pilgrims, according to the bulletin.