Dhaka, May 2 -- The Ministry of Religious Affairs has confirmed that 41,629 Bangladeshi pilgrims have reached Saudi Arabia to perform the Hajj.

Of the arrivals, 4,071 travelled under government management, while 37,558 went through private agencies, according to the bulletin released on Saturday.

The pilgrims were transported via 104 flights.

Biman Bangladesh Airlines operated 49 flights carrying 20,066 passengers, Saudi Arabian Airlines (Saudia) flew 14,016 pilgrims on 37 flights, and Flynas transported 7,547 people via 18 flights.

The ministry confirmed that seven pilgrims, all of them men, have died in the kingdom so far this year. Five of the deaths occurred in Makkah and two in Madinah.

The most recent casualty was identified as...