Dhaka: The deaths of 79 Bangladeshi Hajj pilgrims in a stampede in Mina of Saudi Arabia have been confirmed while 129 Bangladeshis of natural causes, said Religious Affairs secretary Chowdhury Md Babul Hassan.

‘Though nearly 70 pilgrims are still missing, we expect that the death toll won’t rise further,’ said the secretary while talking to reporters at the ministry on Sunday.

There are 125 men and 4 women pilgrims among those who died naturally, he added.  

Responding to a question about bringing back the bodies of the hajj pilgrims, he said the Saudi government has no rule to send back the bodies of hajj pilgrims.

The Foreign Ministry will inform about the government decision if it decides to request the Saudi government for sending back the bodies, Babul Hassan added.

He also said a total of 44,207 hajj pilgrims returned home as of 10 October and all hajj pilgrims will return by 28 October.  

A total of 1, 06,550 people, including hajj pilgrims and hajj officials, went to Saudi Arabia this year.