At least three Bangladeshi pilgrims have so far been confirmed dead in Thursday’s stampede during the annual Hajj pilgrimage at Mina that claimed a total of 769 devotees till date, Bangladesh foreign ministry officials said yesterday. The Saudi authorities have so far released the photographs of 650 pilgrims, they said. Local news agency UNB quoting the Hajj Agencies Association of Bangladesh (HAAB) President Ibrahim Bahar said 11 Bangladeshis died in the stampede. He, however, said the number of Bangladeshi nationals in the incident is 20 as per the HAAB’s own sources while 40 others were injured in the incident. According to a foreign ministry press release that quoted the Consulate General in Jeddah, among the three Bangladeshi pilgrims, the identity of one could be ascertained. He is Md Shahidul Islam from Khulna. Another victim was also identified to be a Bangladeshi, but the identity could not be confirmed.
In addition, the family of one Firoza, who went to KSA to perform Hajj, confirmed her death in the stampede though her photo was not among those released by the Saudi authorities. Another victim was initially identified as a Bangladesh national. But, after verifying the photo, the accompanying relatives conformed that he was not the man from Bangladesh. Officials of Bangladesh Consulate General are trying to confirm the identity of the dead body as well as other victims of the incident.       
The number of missing Bangladeshi pilgrims is yet to be ascertained. The Saudi authorities might publish photographs of rest of the 119 deceased yesterday, or may publish it today. “The actual number of Bangladeshis killed in the stampede will be ascertained after the publishing of the remaining 119 victims,” a senior official of the foreign ministry, who is in constant touch with the Bangladeshi missions in Saudi Arabia, told The Independent yesterday. Our Embassy in Riyadh and Consulate General in Jeddah are “working relentlessly” to gather information and support the victims, he said.
However, he said, “Nobody has access to the bodies. So nothing can be done unless the Saudi authorities publish the photos of the remaining 119 dead.” The official also refuted media reports stating that some 98 Bangladeshi pilgrims are missing. “I hope the number of Bangladeshis among the 119 deceased will not be that high,” he added.
According to the press release, photographs of probable Bangladeshi victims have been displayed in the Bangladesh Hajj Mission, Mecca for identification by hajj agents, relatives and acquaintances. The Bangladesh Consulate General in Jeddah has opened hot-lines, which are 00966(0)537375859 and 00966(0)509360082. Hajjis, their companions and relatives, hajj guides and agents are requested to report about missing hajjis over these numbers.
Meanwhile, Civil Aviation and Tourism Minister Rashed Khan Menon blamed mismanagement for the deaths of pilgrims in Mina. Describing the incident as unfortunate, he said at his office in the Secretariat, “Some of the Hajjis have been killed and some are missing, which is a matter of concern for us.” “There is no problem regarding infrastructure. The problem they have is regarding management,” he added.