Bangladesh death toll reaches 51

The death toll of Bangladeshi pilgrims from the Mina stampede has gone up to 51.

The Bangladesh consulate in Jeddah has sent a list of 29 deceased, who have been identified so far, to the religious affairs ministry, Consul General AKM Shahidul Karim of the consulate told The Daily Star yesterday.

Another 131 Bangladeshi hajis have been missing since the September 24 stampede, he added.

A total of 130 Bangladeshis, including stampede victims, are undergoing treatment at different hospitals in Saudi Arabia, said Shahidul.

Ibrahim Bahar, president of Hajj Agencies Association of Bangladesh, said burials of most of the deceased have already been completed.

Meanwhile, Bangladesh Hajj Mission has asked the relatives of the deceased to report to the mission's control room after burials of the dead.

The mission on its website said the Saudi authorities are working with the relatives of the deceased and Hajj guides to identify and bury the victims.  

In the wake of rumours that victims were being buried in a single grave, the National Society for Human Rights of Saudi Arabia said each of the victims is buried in separate graves after conducting funeral prayers.

A legal team has been formed to protect the rights of the stampede victims, reported Saudi Gazette yesterday.

Mufleh Al-Qahtani, chairman of the rights body, called upon foreign countries to educate their pilgrims and enhance their awareness of Hajj before they travel to Saudi Arabia.

He also urged the foreign embassies to support their efforts to identify victims and inform their family and friends back home.

According to Saudi officials, 769 people died in the crush in Mina. But many countries alleged that the number is more than 1,000.