First Hajj flight departs for Saudi Arabia with 398 pilgrims

The first Hajj flight carrying 398 Bangladeshi pilgrims has departed for Jeddah in Saudi Arabia.

The flight, SV-3803, took off from Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport at 2:20am on Monday night, according to airport authorities.

Earlier in the evening, Hajj Flight 2025 was officially inaugurated at the Ashkona Hajj Camp in Dhaka by Religious Affairs Adviser Dr A F M Khalid Hossain.

Following the inauguration, the adviser exchanged greetings with the pilgrims and urged them to abide by Saudi laws and refrain from any activities that may tarnish Bangladesh’s image abroad.

On the first day alone, a total of 4,180 pilgrims are scheduled to travel to Saudi Arabia on 10 flights. Among them, eight flights will land at King Abdulaziz International Airport in Jeddah and two flights at Prince Mohammad bin Abdulaziz International Airport in Madinah.

This year, three airlines will operate 232 pre-Hajj flights to transport Bangladeshi pilgrims. Biman Bangladesh Airlines will carry 44,307 pilgrims on 118 flights, Saudia Airlines will transport 32,740 on 80 flights, and Flynas will carry 13,065 on 34 flights.

The pre-Hajj flights will continue until 31 May. Return flights are scheduled to begin on 10 June after the completion of Hajj rituals. Depending on the sighting of the moon, Hajj is expected to take place on 5 June.

In total, 87,100 Bangladeshi pilgrims will perform Hajj this year—5,200 through the government-managed programme and 81,900 through private agencies.