Hajj flights will begin on August 27 to ferry a total of 98,762 pilgrims to Saudi Arabia this year.
Biman Bangladesh Airlines will carry the pilgrims from August 27 to September 28 while Saudi Airlines will do the job from September 1 to September 30, sources in civil aviation and tourism ministry said.
Of the total 98,762 pilgrims, only 1,557 will perform the holy hajj under government arrangements.
To ensure smooth transportation of the hajj passengers, a meeting was held yesterday at the secretariat with Civil Aviation and Tourism Minister Rashed Khan Menon in the chair.
The minister told the meeting that stringent actions would be taken, if any airlines or agency indulges in cheating and embarrass the pilgrims.
He asked the officials of Biman Bangladesh Airlines and Saudi Airlines to remain cautious in this regard. No irregularity would be tolerated in the transportation of hajj pilgrims, Rashed Khan Menon said and directed all concerned to complete necessary preparations by the first week of July.
The meeting was informed that a total of 97,205 people will perform hajj under private arrangements this year.
The return hajj flights will begin on October 9 and continue till November 17.
Chairman of Parliamentary Standing Committee on Religious Affairs Ministry BH Harun, Secretary of Civil Aviation and Tourism Ministry Khorshed Alam Chowdhury, Secretary of Religious Affairs Ministry Chowdhury M. Babul Hassan, Biman Managing Director AM Mosaddek Alam, Saudi Airlines Country Manager Hani Al Julham, Hajj Association Bangladesh (HAB) President Ibrahim Bahar and HAB Secretary General Sheikh Abdullah attended the meeting, among others.
