Record 91 hajj pilgrims die this year

A record 91 Bangladeshi hajj pilgrims died so far in Saudi Arabia this year.

Of the deceased, 22 are female and 69 are male, according to the Ministry of Religious Affairs.

The ministry's hajj bulletin released on July 8 revealed that 75 hajj pilgrims died in Makkah, five in Medina, seven in Mina, two in Arafat, and one each in Jeddah and Muzdalifah.

This year's hajj has been observed amid intense heat.

Thirty-two hajj pilgrims died within a week since July 3. On June 29, 7 hajj pilgrims died due to heat stroke, according to media reports.

This is the highest number of Bangladeshis who died in Saudi Arabia during the holy hajj, according to the Hajj Agencies Association of Bangladesh (HAAB).

Hajj pilgrims who die in Saudi Arabia are usually buried in Saudi Arabia, HAAB President M Shahadat Hossain Taslim told The Daily Star.

This year the holy hajj was observed on July 28.

According to the religious affairs ministry, 122884 people went to Saudi Arabia to perform Hajj this year.

The first return flight arrived at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport on July 2. The last return flight is scheduled to arrive on August 2.

A total of 29,004 hajj pilgrims returned to the country as of July 8 by 76 flights of Biman, Saudia and Flynas.