At least four Bangladesh nationals are said to be among those killed in a stampede at Mina, in Saudi Arabia, during the Hajj. Their families in Sunamganj, Jamalpur and Feni said several other Bangladeshis were also injured in the mishap. Firoza Khanam, wife of Khandker Sirajul Islam, from Jamalpur town’s Hatchandra Mollabarhi area, died in one of the worst Hajj tragedies on Thursday. The other victim was Julia Huda, wife of Mukul Huda, from Sunamganj town’s Hajjiparha area. Firoza Khanam was a former teacher of the Hatchandra Government Primary School, her younger son, Khandker Faridul Islam, said. “My mother went to the Hajj with my elder brother Khandker Mojaharul Islam Shamim. My brother called up in the afternoon and informed us about mother’s death,” he said. He also said their relatives ‘Firoz’, Shafiul Azam, Iqbal Bahar Chowdhury, and Saiful Alam had been injured in the incident. Sunamganj Chamber of Commerce and Industries President Khairul Huda Swapan told bdnews24.com that his brother Mukul and sister-in-law Julia had gone on Hajj pilgrimage. Mukul had called in the evening to inform them about Julia’s death, Swapan said. Her elder sister Afia Chowdhury was also injured and undergoing treatment at a hospital in Saudi Arabia, he added. Earlier, Bangladesh Hajj Officer in Jeddah Md Asaduzzaman said there were Bangladeshis among the victims. He, however, could not say how many. “We are trying to gather information. This is a big incident. We’ll make public any information we get.” Asaduzzaman said no one was being allowed near the hospitals. Over two million Muslims from 150 countries are performing Hajj this year. Of them, over 100,000 are Bangladeshis. Saudi authorities said the death toll had risen to 717. At least 863 others have been injured.—bdnews24.com
