Hajj pilgrims free to choose airline

The High Court today cleared the way for the hajj pilgrims to choose any airline while going to Saudi Arabia to perform hajj.

The court also declared "illegal" a government decision that had directed the pilgrims to choose Biman Bangladesh Airlines or Saudi Arabia Airlines for going to Saudi Arabia.

An HC bench came up with the verdict after holding hearing on a writ petition that challenged the legality of the government decision.

The HC bench of Justice Salma Masud Chowdhury and Justice Md Habibul Gani heard the petition.

After the HC order, petitioners' counsels Mahbub Shafiq and KM Hafizul Alam told The Daily Star that the hajj pilgrims can choose any airline to go to Saudi Arabia from now on.

Abdul Kabir Khan, vice president of Hajj Agencies Association of Bangladesh; and a hajj pilgrim, Rezaul Islam, filed the writ petition on July 29 last year.

The HC on that day ruled that the hajj pilgrims could pick any airline while going to Saudi Arabia.

Later on, the Supreme Court stayed the HC order in response to an appeal filed by the government seeking a stay on the rule.