82,000 pilgrims return to Bangladesh as Hajj flights end

As many as 82,416 people have come back to Bangladesh after performing Hajj this year as return flight operations for pilgrims drew to a close.

“The remaining pilgrims are expected to return by today [Friday]. The last return flight carrying Hajj pilgrims has already landed in Dhaka, though the Ministry of Religious Affairs’ Hajj portal has not been fully updated yet,” said Dhaka Hajj Office Director Lokman Hossain.

According to the latest bulletin on the Hajj portal, the pilgrims returned on 215 flights -- 106 operated by Biman Bangladesh Airlines, 75 by Saudia Airlines, and 34 by Flynas.

In total, Biman carried 36,833 pilgrims, Saudia 27,081, and Flynas flew back 12,169. Along with that, 6,333 pilgrims returned on other airlines.

The pre-Hajj flights began on May 10 and ended on Jun 1, while the return flights began on Jun 10 and ended after a month on Jul 10.

This year, 87,100 pilgrims from Bangladesh registered for Hajj, with 5,200 under government management and 81,900 through private agencies.

Hajj was performed on Jun 5. From Bangladesh, 70 licensed lead agencies managed the process privately.

A total of 44 Bangladeshi pilgrims reportedly died during this year’s Hajj, while 10 others remain hospitalised in Saudi Arabia.