50,000 Bangladeshi pilgrims reach Saudi Arabia as 12 deaths reported during Hajj journey

A Jashore resident becomes the latest Bangladeshi pilgrim to die during this year’s Hajj trip

Some 50,492 Bangladeshi pilgrims have reached Saudi Arabia to perform Hajj this year, while 12 deaths have been recorded during the pilgrimage period.

According to the latest bulletin on the Hajj portal of the Ministry of Religious Affairs, updated until 2am on Sunday, 4,071 pilgrims travelled under government management and 46,421 under private arrangements.

The pilgrims flew to Saudi Arabia on 129 flights.

Of them, Biman Bangladesh Airlines operated 59 flights carrying 23,591 pilgrims, Saudia Airlines operated 48 flights carrying 18,042, and Flynas operated 22 flights carrying 8,859 pilgrims.

The ministry said the 12 deaths recorded so far include 10 in Makkah and two in Madinah. Among the dead are 10 men and two women.

The latest victim was 53-year-old Abdul Matin, who died in Makkah on Sunday.

He was a resident of Kotwali in Jashore and had travelled to Madinah on Apr 23 on a Flynas flight.

Official data show 48 Bangladeshi pilgrims died in Saudi Arabia during Hajj in 2025, while 65 died the year before. In 2023, the death toll was the highest in recent years at 123.

For 2026, a total of 78,500 Bangladeshi pilgrims are scheduled to perform Hajj.

Of them, 4,565 will travel under government management and 73,935 through private Hajj agencies. A total of 30 lead agencies are handling arrangements this year.

Pre-Hajj flights, which began on Apr 18, will continue until May 21, with 207 flights scheduled in total. Biman will operate 102 flights, Saudia 75, and Flynas 30.

Subject to moon sighting, Hajj is expected to be held on May 26. Return flights will begin on May 30 and conclude on Jun 30.