Five Bangladeshi pilgrims have died in Saudi Arabia while performing Hajj this year, according to the Ministry of Religious Affairs. The deceased include four men and one woman.

The ministry published the information on its Hajj Management Portal on Saturday (May 10). The pilgrims reportedly passed away on different dates since the beginning of the Hajj season.

The deceased are: Md Khalilur Rahman (70), from Pangsha upazila in Rajbari, who died on April 29, Md Fariduzzaman (57), from Bajitpur in Kishoreganj, who died on May 2, Al Hamida Banu (58), from Panchagarh Sadar, who died on May 5, Md Shahjahan Kabir (60), from Mohammadpur in Dhaka, who died on May 7, and Hafez Uddin (73), from Bakshiganj in Jamalpur, who died on May 9.

In line with Saudi Arabian law, pilgrims who die during Hajj are buried in the kingdom, and their remains are not repatriated, regardless of family requests.

This year’s Hajj is expected to take place on June 5, subject to moon sighting. The first group of Bangladeshi pilgrims departed for Saudi Arabia on April 29, and the last outbound flight is scheduled for May 31.

Bangladesh has a Hajj quota of 87,100 pilgrims for 2025, with 5,200 under government management and 81,900 under private agencies. Return flights are set to begin on June 10 and continue through July 10.

SMS/