Flights for pilgrims willing to perform the Hajj this year will begin from the end of August, Civil Aviation Minister Rashed Khan Menon has said.
Additionally, this year, the government will form a special task force to ensure smooth faring of the pilgrims, the minister said in a press conference on Wednesday.
“Hajj flights will begin from August 27 and will continue until September 28,” Menon said after a meeting of the civil aviation ministry in regard to Hajj this year.
“Return flights will begin from October 8 and will run until November 8,” he added.
A special task force has been formed, headed by civil aviation ministry Joint Secretary Joinal Abedin Talukdar, for ensuring smooth passage of pilgrims, Menon said.
Earlier in April, the government annulled licenses of eight Hajj agencies and suspended 43 others for irregularities committed during the Hajj season of 2013.
This year, the government has finalised two packages – at Tk354,316 and Tk295,776 – for pilgrims aspiring to perform Hajj – the biggest Islam ritual in the world.
However, additional Tk10,500 will be charged for the purposes of Kurbani.
A total of 101,758 pilgrims are expected to perform Hajj this year as the Saudi Arabian authorities allowed Bangladesh to send pilgrims equivalent to that number.