Hajj return flights are scheduled to start on Thursday and will run until July 22, as announced by the Ministry of Religious Affairs in their latest update. The first Biman Bangladesh flight carrying Hajj pilgrims back from Saudi Arabia will arrive at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport in Dhaka at 11:55 pm on Thursday.
This year, a total of 85,225 pilgrims, including organisers, made the journey from Bangladesh to Saudi Arabia to perform Hajj. Half of the passengers returning from Hajj will be flying with Biman Bangladesh Airlines, while the other half will be split between Saudi Arabian Airlines and Flynas.
The first Hajj flight departed on May 9, with flights to Saudi Arabia running until June 12. Throughout this period, a total of 218 flights were operated specifically for Hajj pilgrims. Biman Bangladesh Airlines operated 106 flights, Saudi Arabian Airlines operated 75 flights, and Flynas operated 37 flights.
Unfortunately, there have been reports of three more Bangladeshi Hajj pilgrims passing away in Saudi Arabia in the last two days, bringing the total number of deaths to 21. According to the IT help desk of the Hajj management portal, as of 3 am on Wednesday, 18 men and three women from Bangladesh have lost their lives during the pilgrimage. The majority of these deaths occurred in Makkah, with four in Madinah and one in Jeddah.
The resumption of Hajj return flights marks the end of the pilgrimage season for many Bangladeshi pilgrims, who traveled to Saudi Arabia to fulfill their religious duties. Despite the challenges and unfortunate incidents, the completion of this spiritual journey is a significant moment for all those involved.