65,592 Bangladeshi Hajj pilgrims reach Saudi Arabia, 18 die

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Update Time : Tuesday, May 19, 2026
16 Time

A total of 65,592 Bangladeshi Hajj pilgrims have arrived in Saudi Arabia on 169 flights as of Tuesday (19 May) while 18 Bangladeshi pilgrims have died so far during the current Hajj season.

According to the latest bulletin issued by the IT Helpdesk of the Ministry of Religious Affairs’ Hajj Management Portal, 65,592 pilgrims had reached Saudi Arabia by 11:59pm Saudi time on 18 May.

Of them, 4,444 travelled under the government management scheme, while 61,148 travelled through private arrangements.

This year’s Hajj is expected to take place on 26 May, subject to the sighting of the moon. Since the beginning of Hajj flights on 18 April, a total of 169 flights have been operated under both government and private management.

Among the carriers, Biman Bangladesh Airlines operated 86 flights, Saudi Airlines 61 flights, and Flynas Airlines 22 flights.

Biman transported 34,070 pilgrims, Saudi Airlines carried 22,663 passengers, while Flynas carried 8,859 pilgrims.

Medical centres established in Saudi Arabia have so far issued 30,370 automated prescriptions to pilgrims. In addition, the IT Helpdesk has provided 18,210 services.

According to the ministry, 18 Bangladeshi pilgrims — including 13 men and five women — have died so far in Saudi Arabia. Of them, 13 died in Makkah and five in Madinah.

This year, Bangladesh has been allotted a total Hajj quota of 78,500 pilgrims. A total of 660 agencies are involved in managing Hajj operations, including 30 lead agencies and 630 coordinating agencies.

Subject to the sighting of the moon, Hajj is expected to take place on 26 May this year.

Return flights are scheduled to begin on 30 May from Jeddah and will continue throughout June, with the final return flight expected on 30 June.