First hajj flight leaves Dhaka with 410 pilgrims

Biman Bangladesh Airlines' first hajj flight, carrying 410 hajj pilgrims, departed Dhaka for Saudi Arabia Sunday morning.

Around 9:00 a.m., the Boeing 777 airplane took off from Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport.

The hajj program was begun by Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Friday.

M Mahbub Ali, the State Minister for Civil Aviation, and Md Faridul Haque Khan, the State Minister for Religious Affairs, asked the pilgrims about their problems at the airport before sending them out.

According to a bilateral agreement between Bangladesh and Saudi Arabia, 57,585 Bangladeshis would be permitted to attend hajj this year, which is expected to take place on July 8 if the moon is visible.

4000 pilgrims will do the hajj under official supervision, while the rest will do so through private hajj firms.

According to Biman, the national airlines would transport 29,000 pilgrims on 130 dedicated flights with 65 round trips using three Boeing 777 aircraft.

The remaining pilgrims will be transported by Saudia and Flynas.