This year’s Hajj flights will commence in the early hours of Tuesday.
The first group of pilgrims is scheduled to depart from Shahjalal International Airport at 2:15am.
As in previous years, Biman Bangladesh Airlines, the national carrier, will transport half of the pilgrims, while Saudia Airlines and Flynas will carry the remaining half.
Abu Bakar Siddique, the public relations officer at the Ministry of Religious Affairs, confirmed the information on Monday.
Religious Affairs Advisor AFM Khalid Hossain is set to inaugurate the Hajj trips at the Ashkona Hajj Camp in Dhaka, Siddique said.
A total of 87,100 pilgrims from Bangladesh are preparing to travel to Saudi Arabia for Hajj this year. Of them, the government will oversee the arrangements for 5,200 pilgrims, while private Hajj agencies will manage the trips of the remaining 81,900 pilgrims.
According to the Ministry of Religious Affairs, about 73 percent of the pilgrims have already secured their visas.
The Hajj for the Islamic year 1446, corresponding to 2025, is expected to take place on June 5, subject to the sighting of the moon.
As in previous years, immigration, boarding, and check-in procedures for Bangladeshi pilgrims will be completed at the Hajj camp, with Saudi Arabia’s pre-arrival processing conducted at Shahjalal International Airport. The Hajj flights will continue until May 31.
Biman Bangladesh Airlines plans to operate 118 flights, Saudia Airlines will run 80, and Flynas will handle 34 flights.
This year, Saudia Airlines will operate the first Hajj flight, departing from Dhaka at 2:15am, followed by the second flight operated by Biman.
Speaking about the preparations, Bosra Islam, general manager of Biman’s Public Relations Wing, told bdnews24.com: “The first Biman Hajj flight will leave Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport at 3am. We are fully prepared.”
Bangladeshi pilgrims will be traveling under the “Makkah Route Initiative,” said Maj Gen Nurul Anwar, director general of the Department of Immigration and Passport.
The Makkah Route Initiative, part of Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030, is being implemented by the Saudi Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
As part of the initiative, dedicated airport lounges have been set up in 11 airports across seven countries: Bangladesh, Morocco, Indonesia, Malaysia, Pakistan, Turkey, and Ivory Coast.
According to the Saudi Press Agency, the Makkah Route Initiative is aimed at providing high-quality transportation services for Hajj pilgrims from participating countries.
Saudi Arabia had initially allocated a quota of 127,198 pilgrims for Bangladesh this year. However, around 33 percent of the quota remained unfilled, similar to previous years.
In 2024, a total of 85,257 Bangladeshis performed Hajj. This year, the number of pilgrims has seen a slight increase.
