Over Six Thousand Bangladeshi Hajj Pilgrims Return Home

The Ministry of Religious Affairs and relevant aviation authorities have confirmed that a total of 6,175 Bangladeshi Hajj pilgrims have successfully returned to the country following the completion of their annual pilgrimage in Saudi Arabia. According to statistical data compiled up to Sunday, 31 May, the returnees were transported back via 15 designated inbound flights. The formal rituals and operations of this year’s Hajj concluded in Saudi Arabia on 26 June.

An official attached to the operational committee stated that three designated commercial airlines are currently managing the post-Hajj repatriation flight network. The logistical distribution of the 15 completed flights includes three operations operated by Biman Bangladesh Airlines, four operations conducted by Saudia (Saudi Arabian Airlines), and eight inbound flights managed by Flynas.

Management Classification of Returned Pilgrims

According to the official repository maintained by the Hajj Office, the repatriated citizens belong to both state-managed and commercially operated packages. The structural breakdown of the returned pilgrims reveals the following categories:

• Government Management: A total of 416 pilgrims arrived after performing the rituals under the direct sponsorship and administrative framework of the Bangladeshi government.

• Private Agencies: A dominant majority of 5,759 pilgrims returned under the operational management of various privately licensed Hajj travel agencies.

The operational pipeline for the entire pilgrimage began earlier in the year. The initial outbound Hajj flight departed Dhaka on 18 April, commencing the pre-tournament deployment phase, which officially concluded on 21 May. Following the month-long stay in Saudi Arabia, the return flight operations were formally initiated yesterday, Saturday, 30 May. According to the civil aviation schedule, these repatriation flights will run continuously until 30 June to facilitate the return of the remaining citizens.

In-Country Mortality Statistics Registered During Hajj

While thousands of citizens have begun their return journeys, the Hajj Office has also updated its vital statistics regarding fatalities recorded among the Bangladeshi delegation within the borders of Saudi Arabia. To date, a total of 37 Bangladeshi pilgrims have died due to various health complications and natural causes during the pilgrimage season.

The administrative desk confirmed that the respective burial procedures for the deceased citizens are being systematically handled within Saudi Arabia in accordance with standard international Hajj protocols and regulations.

Ongoing Repatriation and Airport Logistics

The administrative staff at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport in Dhaka have established specialized processing booths to manage the influx of arriving flights. Representatives from the Ministry of Religious Affairs, alongside medical teams and aviation security personnel, are working in shifts to ensure that baggage retrieval, customs clearance, and the distribution of sacred Zamzam water are executed efficiently.

The authorities have reiterated that all three participating airlines—Biman Bangladesh Airlines, Saudia, and Flynas—are strictly monitored to ensure compliance with the daily slot allocations. This rigorous scheduling is being maintained to avoid airfield congestion and to provide optimal transit comfort for the returning pilgrims during the peak operational window, which concludes at the end of June.