The first Hajj flights carrying 419 Bangladeshi pilgrims took off for Saudi Arabia yesterday at 8:35 am and it reached Jedda at 12:10 am at local time.
Khan Mosharraf Hossain, general manager of Biman Bangladesh Airlines said, the first hajj flight reached Jedda safely where Bangladesh AQmbassador Golam Moshi received the pilgrims.
High official of Bangladesh Embassy were also present at the Jedda airport.
Biman Bangladesh Airlines official said, Civil Aviation Minister Rashed Khan Menon and Religious Affairs Minister Matiur Rahman bade farewell to the first flight of pilgrims at 8:35am at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport.
The civil aviation minister said the inauguration flight left Dhaka today (Sunday) and will continue until September 17.
“We have taken all necessary measures to carry the pilgrims and Biman is determined to complete the task with utmost priority,” said the aviation minister.
Khan Mosharraf Hossain said the national flag carrier had procured larger capacity aircraft to meet growing number of pilgrims in the country.
A total of 285 dedicated flights will be operated by national flag carrier while 61 scheduled flights will also carry the pilgrims.
Air Marshal Jamal Uddin Ahmed (Retd.) yesterday inaugurated the permanent sales center at Ashkona Hajj camp. The permanent sales center will remain open every day from 8:00 am to 8:00 pm.
Earlier, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina inaugurated this year’s Hajj programme at Dhaka’s Ashkona Hajj Camp on 13 August.
Biman will also operate several direct flights from Chittagong and Sylhet to ease the pilgrims’ sufferings.
This year, some 101,758 Bangladeshi pilgrims will perform the hajj. Biman will carry 51,000 pilgrims and the rest will travel on Saudi Arabian Airlines.
Return flights will begin on September 27 and will continue until October 28.
Biman is charging pilgrims $1,515 for economy class seats and $2,500 for business class seats this year, excluding taxes and others charges.
According to Biman rules, each pilgrim may carry 32kg in luggage and a 7kg in handbag.
No pilgrim will be allowed to individually carry Zamzam Well water on board the aircraft.
The state-owned airline will provide each pilgrim with five litres of Zamzam water. The hajj will likely to be performed this year on September 24.
