First hajj flight with 419 pilgrims today

The first hajj flight, carrying 419 pilgrims, is scheduled to leave Dhaka today.

"A Biman Bangladesh Airlines will operate the first hajj flight from Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport to Jeddah at 3:20am," said Biman's spokesperson Tahera Khondoker.

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Friday inaugurated the Hajj Programme-2023 (1444 Hijri) at the Hajji Office in the capital's Ashkona area.

This year, a total of 1,22,221 pilgrims from Bangladesh are going to perform the hajj. The number of hajj pilgrims from Bangladesh was 57,585 last year due to Covid-19 restriction.

Before the Covid-19 pandemic, 1,27,198 pilgrims from Bangladesh performed hajj in 2019.

This year, due to high cost of hajj package, around 5,000 hajj quota is remaining vacant.

Biman is scheduled to send around 61,000 pilgrims while Saudi Arabia and Flynas will send the rest of the hajis to the Kingdom.

Saudia and Flynas are also scheduled to start hajj operation from May 25, officials of the two airlines said.

The hajj is expected to be held on June 27 depending on the sighting of the moon.