56,000 Bangladeshi pilgrims arrive in Saudi as govt-run pre-Hajj flights end

So far, 14 Bangladeshi nationals have died during the pilgrimage

The last government-operated pre-Hajj flight this year has arrived in Saudi Arabia. Biman Bangladesh Airlines' BG-531 flight landed in Saudi Arabia on Thursday, the Ministry of Religious Affairs said.

The ministry's latest bulletin at 2am on Thursday said, "The arrival of all pilgrims through government-operated flights this year has been completed successfully. The officials and employees of the Hajj missions of Bangladesh and Saudi Arabia are working tirelessly to ensure holistic services for the pilgrims.

"The concerned team is performing its duties with utmost sincerity and responsibility to ensure proper accommodation, transportation, medical care and other necessary services for the pilgrims."

The bulletin said that 56,659 pilgrims have so far arrived in Saudi Arabia from Bangladesh for Hajj. And, 14 people have died so far while in the country.

As of 2am on Thursday, 4,444 pilgrims travelled to Saudi Arabia from Bangladesh through government channels and 52,115 through private channels.

These pilgrims have reached Saudi Arabia on board 146 flights. Biman Bangladesh Airlines has transported 28,448 pilgrims on 72 flights, Saudia Airlines on 52 flights and Flynas on 22 flights.

According to the Ministry of Religious Affairs, 14 pilgrims have died in Saudi Arabia so far this year. Of them, 11 died in Makkah and three in Madinah. Among the deceased, 10 are men and four are women.

The latest death, a 37-year-old pilgrim named Nasreen Jahan, arrived in Saudi Arabia on Tuesday and died in Madinah.

She was a resident of Barobaika area of Chandana under Gazipur Sadar Thana. She arrived in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, on Apr 26 on board a Saudia Airlines flight.

Citing her husband and Hajj workers, the Ministry of Religious Affairs said that Nasreen had been suffering from various physical problems since reaching Makkah. She travelled to Madinah from Makkah on May 12. Her physical condition deteriorated further upon her arrival.

Later, her husband took her to the Al-Haram Hospital in Medina. She died at 8:27pm local time following her admission. Her burial was completed in Madinah after Fajr prayers.

According to the Ministry of Religious Affairs, 48 pilgrims died in Saudi Arabia while performing Hajj in 2025. The previous year, 65 died during the pilgrimage. The highest number of deaths in recent years was in 2023, which saw 123.

In 2026, 78,500 people from Bangladesh are performing Hajj. Of them, 4,565 people are travelling on government packages, while 73,935 people are going through private means, i.e. Hajj agencies.

This year, 30 lead agencies offered privately managed Hajj packages.

The pre-Hajj flights, which started on Apr 18, will end on May 21. There will be 207 pre-Hajj flights; of which Biman Bangladesh Airlines will operate 102, Saudia 75 and Flynas 30.

The Hajj is likely to be held on May 26, subject to the sighting of the moon. After the Hajj formalities, the return flights will start on May 30 and end on June 30.