DHAKA, May 21, 2023 (BSS) -The first hajj flight of Biman Bangladesh Airlines left Dhaka for Saudi Arabia with 415 hajj pilgrims in the early hours of today.

The national flag carrier's aircraft 'BG-3001' departed from Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport (HSIA) around 3:20am and it was scheduled to land in Jeddah at 7:20am (Saudi Arabia time).

State Minister for Civil Aviation Md Mahbub Ali, State Minister for Religious Affairs Md Faridul Haque Khan, Ambassador of Saudi Arabia to Bangladesh Isa Bin Yusuf Al Duhailan, Member of Parliament from Dhaka-18 Constituency Habib Hasan, Biman Bangladesh Chairman Mustafa Kamal Uddin, Civil Aviation and Tourism Ministry Secretary Md Mokammel Hossain, Civil Aviation Authority Chairman Air Vice Marshal Md Mofidur Rahman, Biman Bangladesh Airlines Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer Shafiul Azim, among others, were present at the airport to see the hajj pilgrims off. 

At the airport, earlier, an event organized to mark the first hajj flight, Mahbub Ali sought prayers from the pilgrims for happiness, peace, prosperity, and advancement of the country under the leadership of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.

All-out preparations have been taken to ensure the smooth operation of hajj flights like the past years, the state minister added.

Four more flights of Biman Bangladesh Airlines will leave Dhaka for Jeddah with Hajj pilgrims at different times today.

Earlier, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Friday inaugurated the Hajj Activities-2023 (1444 Hijri) at the Hajji Office in the capital's Ashkona area.

This year, a total of 122,221 pilgrims from Bangladesh are going to perform hajj. Of them, 61,111 will fly Biman Bangladesh Airlines and the rest either Saudia or Flynas.

The Hajj is expected to be held on June 27 depending on the sighting of the moon.