A Bangladeshi has reportedly been identified among those killed in stampede at Mina in Saudi Arabia during the Hajj.

Firoza Khanam, wife of Khandker Sirajul Islam, from Jamalpur town’s Hatchandra Mollabarhi area died in one of the worst Hajj tragedies on Thursday.   

She was a former teacher of 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. Barho Bhai (elder brother) called up in the afternoon and informed us about mother’s death,” he said.

Shamim told his brother that he, too, was injured in the stampede.

Earlier, Bangladesh Hajj Officer in Jeddah Md Asaduzzaman said there were Bangladeshis among the victims.

He, however, could not confirm the number of Bangladeshi victims.

“We are trying to gather information. This is a big incident. We’ll make public any information we get.”

Asaduzzaman also said no one was allowed near the hospitals.

Over 2 million Muslims from 150 countries are performing Hajj this year.  Of them, over 100,000 are Bangladeshis.

Saudi authorities have raised the death toll to 717.

Another 863 have been injured in the worst Hajj disaster in 25 years.

bdnews24.com/TF