The formalities of the holy Hajj concluded today (Friday) with the symbolic stoning of the three Jamarat. Following the completion of Hajj, pilgrims are now set to return home, with return Hajj flights scheduled to begin tonight.

The information was disclosed in a press release signed by Md Abubakar Siddique, Public Relations Officer of the Ministry of Religious Affairs, on Friday.

According to the release, the first return flight will depart from King Abdulaziz International Airport in Jeddah at 12:10 am Saudi local time. The return journey of Bangladeshi pilgrims will begin with Saudia Airlines flight SV-5806.

On the first day alone, 5,434 pilgrims are expected to return to Bangladesh on 13 flights. The return Hajj flights will continue until July 1.

The 2026 Hajj flight operations were formally inaugurated by Prime Minister at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport on the night of April 17. The last outbound Hajj flight carrying Bangladeshi pilgrims departed for Saudi Arabia on May 21.

The press release also stated that the Ministry of Religious Affairs completed all necessary arrangements including tent rentals, transport agreements, accommodation bookings, and visa processing within the timeframe set by the Saudi government this year.

Necessary measures were also taken in coordination with the airlines to ensure smooth transportation of pilgrims. As a result, all registered Bangladeshi Hajj pilgrims were able to travel to Saudi Arabia without any schedule disruption.