Thousands of Bangladeshi pilgrims have begun arriving in Saudi Arabia for the annual Hajj pilgrimage, with authorities confirming that nearly 35,000 people have already reached the kingdom.
Officials from the Bangladesh Hajj Office said that, as of Saturday morning, 34,941 pilgrims had travelled to Saudi Arabia on 87 dedicated flights. All of these flights have landed in Jeddah, which serves as a key entry point for Hajj pilgrims.
The director of the Hajj Office, Md Lokman Hossain, said the overall quota for Bangladesh this year stands at 78,500 pilgrims. Of this total, a large majority are travelling under private arrangements, while a smaller number are being managed directly by the government.
Flight data indicates that national carrier Biman Bangladesh Airlines transported over 15,000 pilgrims across dozens of flights. Saudi Airlines carried a similar number, while budget carrier Flynas accounted for several thousand additional pilgrimages on its scheduled services.
Authorities expect the remaining pilgrims to arrive in phases over the coming days, using designated airlines operating under the Hajj management framework.
According to official figures, more than 4,500 pilgrims are participating under government supervision, while the vast majority—over 73,000—are travelling through private agencies. In total, hundreds of authorised agencies are involved in coordinating the pilgrimage, including a smaller group of lead operators overseeing logistics.
Meanwhile, the Saudi Embassy in Dhaka has already issued over 78,000 visas to Bangladeshi pilgrims, covering both government and privately managed travellers.
The Hajj pilgrimage, one of the largest annual religious gatherings in the world, is expected to take place in late May, depending on the sighting of the moon. Preparations are ongoing both in Bangladesh and Saudi Arabia to ensure smooth travel and accommodation for pilgrims.
