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DHAKA, May 28, 2025 (BSS) - A total of 70,588 Bangladeshi Hajj pilgrims have reached Saudi Arabia onboard 182 flights so far since April 29 while the last flight to take off with pilgrims from Dhaka on May 31, officials said here today.

“A total of 87,100 Bangladeshis are set to perform the holy hajj this year while 5,200 are to perform the ritual under Bangladesh government arrangements while private operators would handle the pilgrimage of the 81,900,” religious affairs ministry spokesman M Abubakor Siddik said.

He said three Biman Bangladesh Airlines flights with 1266 hajj pilgrims, one Saudi Airlines flight with 395 pilgrimages and Flynas Airlines with 365 hajis left or would leave Bangladesh today for Saudi Arabia.

The last flight to carrying the pilgrims is scheduled to reach Saudi Arabia on May 31.

The spokesman said the ministry was issuing regular Hajj bulletin with the latest one announcing deaths of 12 pilgrims after reaching Saudi Arabia due to old age or different health grounds in the past several days.

Until now, Biman Bangladesh Airlines so far operated 94 flights, carrying 36,380 pilgrims, Saudi Airlines conducted 67 flights with 25,580 pilgrims and Riyadh-based Flynas Airlines transported 8,628 pilgrims on 21 flights.

The Hajj office bulletin said according to the aviation plan Bangladesh Airlines would operate 118 hajj flights, Saudi Airlines 80 flights and 34 flights for the pilgrimage.

According to the officials 4,583 pilgrims under the government's Hajj programme and 63,697 under private arrangements reached Saudi Arabian till today.

The first Hajj flight with 398 Hajj pilgrims departed from Dhaka’s Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport on April 29.

The Hajj this year is expected to take place on June 5 but the date could differ over the moonlighting in line with the Arabic lunar calendar.

Return flights with hajis are set to commence on June 10 and conclude on July 10.