33 Stranded Bangladeshi Umrah Pilgrims Return from Saudi Arabia

Thirty-three members of a Bangladeshi Umrah group caught up in a Houthi attack in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, have returned home.

They arrived at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport at 11:20pm on Tuesday (October 20) and were welcomed by officials from the Ministry of Religious Affairs.

Those present included Sadek Hossain, private secretary to the Religious Affairs Minister; Lokman Hossain, director of Hajj at the Islamic Foundation; Mufti AFM Akram Hossain; Mufti Imranul Bari Siraji; Maulana Sanaullah Khan; Hafez Maulana Tofayel Ahmed; and Maulana Gazi Ahmed Abdullah Musa, among others.

While 33 members of the Umrah group have returned home, seven others remain under treatment in Riyadh. Bangladeshi Islamic scholar Mufti Nasrullah Badr (RA) was martyred in the attack.

Shortly after the attack, Umrah pilgrim Mufti Muhammad Ali Qasemi spoke about the incident in a Facebook Live broadcast. He was later reportedly taken away by intelligence agency members from a hotel in Makkah. However, the returning pilgrims said his whereabouts remain unknown.

Since the attack, calls have been made for the relevant authorities to take effective steps to bring the remaining group members home, ensure treatment for those injured and find and secure the release of Mufti Muhammad Ali Qasemi.