Dhaka: Biman Bangladesh Airlines and other operators are set to conclude their pre-Hajj flight operations today, transporting a total of 4,463 pilgrims to Saudi Arabia ahead of midnight. Officials have confirmed that these operations are nearing completion, marking the end of this phase of the pilgrimage.
According to Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha, the final flight, operated by Saudi-based Flynas, will leave Dhaka at 10:55 pm, carrying 424 pilgrims on board. Director of the Bangladesh Hajj Office, Mohammad Lokman Hossain, stated that a total of 11 pre-Hajj flights are scheduled to operate until midnight, most of which have already departed from Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport. The breakdown of these flights includes three operated by Biman, four by Saudi Airlines, and four by Flynas Airlines.
A total of 78,454 pilgrims have obtained Saudi visas to perform Hajj this year. Out of these, 4,565 will undertake the pilgrimage under government management, while 73,889 will travel through 660 private Hajj agencies. Biman Bangladesh Airlines conducted the highest number of flights, totaling 98, followed by Saudi Airlines with 73 flights and Flynas with 30 flights. These flights have been instrumental in transporting pilgrims to the Saudi cities of Jeddah and the holy city of Madinah. Biman alone carried 38,616 pilgrims.
The Hajj office reported that 18 Bangladeshi pilgrims have passed away due to natural causes up until yesterday. The deceased include 13 men and five women, with 13 deaths occurring in Makkah and five in Medina.
The first Hajj flight, BG3001, took off from Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport on April 17, heading to King Abdulaziz International Airport in Jeddah, carrying 418 pilgrims. Prime Minister Tarique Rahman inaugurated the Hajj flight operations, bidding farewell to the initial group of departing pilgrims.
According to the Islamic (Hijri) lunar calendar, the holy Hajj will be observed in Saudi Arabia on May 26. The return of Bangladeshi pilgrims is scheduled to begin on May 30, with the final return flight planned for June 30.