The flights for the holy Hajj pilgrimage are starting from today. This year, 87,100 Bangladeshi pilgrims are set to travel to Saudi Arabia to perform Hajj. On the first day, 419 pilgrims will depart from Dhaka for Saudi Arabia.
On Monday (April 28), the Hajj flights will be officially inaugurated by the Interim Government’s Advisor for Religious Affairs, A. F. M. Khalid Hossain.
This year, 5,200 pilgrims will perform Hajj under government management, while the remaining 81,900 will travel under private arrangements.
The first flight is scheduled to depart from Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport at 2:15 AM for Saudi Arabia. To ensure smooth Hajj management, 112 guides under the government and 1,743 guides under private arrangements will be on duty. Additionally, 70 "Muallim" (Hajj guides) will provide comprehensive assistance to the pilgrims.
Chairman of the Civil Aviation Authority of Bangladesh (CAAB), Air Vice Marshal M. Mafidur Rahman, told the media, “Extensive preparations have been made to ensure that Hajj pilgrims traveling through Shahjalal Airport face no inconvenience. Immigration procedures for arrival in Saudi Arabia will be completed at our airport itself, helping to avoid delays or difficulties there.”
He further added, “Our teams are working to ensure that pilgrims do not face any problems.”
Meanwhile, Biman Bangladesh Airlines and two other airlines are fully prepared for transporting the Hajj pilgrims. Hajj flights will continue until May 31. The return flights will begin on June 10 and conclude on July 10.
This year, Biman Bangladesh Airlines will operate 118 Hajj flights, Saudia will operate 80, and NAS Airlines will operate 34 Hajj flights. For the return journey, Biman will operate 109 flights, Saudia 79, and NAS 34 flights.
Dr. Shafiqur Rahman, MD and CEO of Biman Bangladesh Airlines, said, “We have made extensive preparations from Biman Bangladesh Airlines this time. All necessary arrangements have been made to ensure that pilgrims face no difficulties.”
The holy Hajj of 1446 Hijri will be held on the 9th of Dhul-Hijjah (depending on the sighting of the moon) on June 5, 2025.
