A total of 56,659 Bangladeshi pilgrims have so far arrived in Saudi Arabia to perform Hajj this year, says the Ministry of Religious Affairs.

Of them, 4,444 travelled under the government management, while 52,115 arrived through private Hajj agencies, according to a bulletin issued by the Hajj Management Portal under the ministry at 3:00am on Friday.

So far, a total of 146 flights have transported Bangladeshi pilgrims to Saudi Arabia, including 72 operated by Biman Bangladesh Airlines, 52 by Saudia and 22 by Flynas.

Among the carriers, Biman transported 28,448 pilgrims, Saudia carried 19,352, while Flynas flew 8,859 pilgrims to the kingdom.

Officials said the final flight carrying the Hajj pilgrims under the government management landed safely in Saudi Arabia on Thursday.

The first Hajj flight from Bangladesh departed on April 18, while the final outbound flight is scheduled for May 21.

The return flights of pilgrims are scheduled to begin on May 30 and continue until June 30.

Meanwhile, 14 Bangladeshi pilgrims have died in Saudi Arabia so far. Of them, 10 were men and four were women. Eleven deaths were reported in Makkha and three in Madinah.

The latest death was recorded on May 12 when Nasrin Jahan, 37, from Gazipur, died of natural causes.

Under this year’s arrangement, Bangladesh has a quota of 4,565 pilgrims under government management and 73,935 under private management.

Hajj is scheduled to be held on May 26 subject to the sighting of the moon.