Dhaka, May 17 -- As many as 48,661 Bangladeshi pilgrims have arrived in Saudi Arabia to perform Hajj this year, according to the latest Hajj bulletin from the Ministry of Religious Affairs.

They travelled on a total of 123 flights.

Of these, Biman Bangladesh Airlines carried 24,286 pilgrims on 62 flights, Saudia Airlines transported 16,112 pilgrims on 41 flights, and Flynas operated 20 flights ferrying 8,263 pilgrims.

Seven Bangladeshi pilgrims have died during the pilgrimage so far, six men and one woman. Three deaths occurred in Makkah and four in Madinah.

The latest death was reported on Wednesday in Madinah. The deceased was Md Ohidur Rahman, 72, from Sandwip in Chattogram. He departed for Hajj on May 7 aboard a Biman flight.

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