Eight of the 22 Umrah pilgrims killed and 18 others injured in a fiery bus crash in Saudi Arabia were Bangladeshis, according to the Bangladesh Consulate in Jeddah.
They are Shahidul Islam and Md Helal from Noakhali; Mamun Miah and Rasel Mollah from Comilla; Sabuj Hossain from Laxmipur; Md Asif from Cox's Bazar; Md Imam Hossain from Gazipur and Ruku Miah from Chandpur.
A total of 47 passengers were on the bus, of which 35 were from Bangladesh, an official at the consulate said on Tuesday.
Earlier in the day, AFP citing Saudi state media reported that a bus ferrying pilgrims to the holy city of Makkah burst into flames after a collision on a bridge on Monday.
The incident in the southern province of Asir highlights persistent challenges to safely transporting worshippers to Makkah and Madina, the holiest cities in Islam.
It comes during the first week of Ramadan, a busy time for umrah pilgrimages, and just months before millions of Muslims are expected to make the annual hajj pilgrimage.
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