Online Desk: Three more Bangladeshi hajj pilgrims have died in Saudi Arabia in the last four days, raising the death toll to 117. Of the deceased, 26 were female and 91 males, according to the hajj portal of the religious affairs ministry of Bangladesh.

Age of most of the deceased pilgrims was between 50 and 71, according to the portal. Ninety-five hajis died in Mecca, nine in Mina, eight in Madina, two each in Arafah and Jeddah and one in Mujdalifa. This is the highest number of deaths of Bangladeshis in Saudi Arabia during the holy hajj, according to the Hajj Agencies Association of Bangladesh (HAAB).

Hajj pilgrims who die in Saudi Arabia are usually buried in the kingdom, HAAB President M Shahadat Hossain Taslim said. Seven Bangladeshi hajj pilgrims died in a single day, June 29, due to heat stroke, according to different media outlets in Bangladesh and around the world.

This year’s hajj was observed in Saudi Arabia amid intense heat in July 27. Around 1.22 lakh Bangladeshis went to Saudi Arabia to perform hajj this year. Meanwhile, a total of 98,746 hajj pilgrims returned to the country as of July 26 in 260 flights of Biman, Saudia and Flynas. The return hajj flights will continue till August 2.