Haab demands 3rd carrier for hajj pilgrims

Hajj Agencies Association of Bangladesh (Haab) today demanded a third carrier apart from Biman Bangladesh Airlines and Saudi Arabian Airlines for smooth flying of hajj pilgrims this year.

Haab President Mohammad Ibrahim Bahar at a press conference in the capital’s Officers’ Club said that the government should allow all airlines from Middle-Eastern countries to ferry the pilgrims to avoid mismanagements.

Despite having a direction from the High Court to allow a third carrier for carrying pilgrims,  Civil Aviation and Tourism Minister Rashed Khan Menon last week told reporters that no third carrier would be allowed to carry pilgrims to Saudi Arabia in this hajj season.

Rejecting a proposal of Saudi government to allow National Air Services (NAS Air), Saudi Arabian state-owned airlines, to fly hajj pilgrims, the minister declared only Biman Bangladesh Airlines and Saudi Arabian Airlines would be allowed to carry pilgrims this year.

The Haab placed two packages to ferry hajj pilgrims to Saudi to the upcoming hajj scheduled to begin on October 4 this year.

The minimum costs for a pilgrim for performing hajj under agency is TK 2,95,776 and the maximum is TK 3,54,316, said the Haab president.

He, however, said the costs of the two packages might increase due to foreign currency rate and other emergency reasons.