TDS Desk:

A total of 37,430 Bangladeshi Hajj pilgrims have so far arrived in Saudi Arabia.

Md. Lokman Hossain, Director of the Hajj Office under the Ministry of Religious Affairs, confirmed the information on Saturday.

The first Hajj flight departed from Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport on April 29. Since then, 93 flights carrying pilgrims have left Dhaka. According to the ministry, another 49,670 pilgrims are scheduled to travel to Saudi Arabia on 139 more flights.

This year, 5,062 pilgrims are performing Hajj under government management, while 81,121 are going through private arrangements.

On Saturday, 1,242 pilgrims departed for Saudi Arabia. Of them, 837 flew with Biman Bangladesh Airlines and 405 with Saudi Airlines.

This year’s Hajj is expected to be held on June 5, subject to the sighting of the moon.