For the first time ever, Biman Bangladesh Airlines will carry Hajj pilgrims directly from Dhaka to Medina this year. These special Hajj flights will begin from July 24 and continue until August 26. Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina will inaugurate Hajj Camp 2017 in the city’s Ashkona Hajj office on July 22. Civil aviation and tourism minister Rashed Khan Menon said this while talking to reporters at a press briefing at the Secretariat yesterday. Each Hajj pilgrim has to pay USD 1,525 as Biman fare, Menon said. The Biman authority will take 50 per cent of the fare in advance because many passengers opt out even after confirmation, he explained.

Regarding an extra charge of Tk. 2,866, the minister said the excise duty on air tickets has been increased in the current budget. So, this amount is being taken as the tax against each ticket.  The first Hajj flight, carrying 419 pilgrims, will take off from Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport at 7.55 am for Saudi Arabia, said the minister. “Biman Bangladesh Airlines and Saudi Arabian Airlines will carry half the Bangladeshi pilgrims each,” he added.

The minister said 177 flights in all will carry the Hajj pilgrims until August 26. Of these, 144 are special Hajj flights and 30 are regular ones. The 169 return flights will begin from September 6 and continue until October 5. Of these, 139 are dedicated flights and 30 are scheduled ones.

“There will be 127,198 Hajj pilgrims from Bangladesh this year under government and private managements. Among them, 4,230 will perform Hajj under government management,” he said.

Regarding the allegations of ‘ticket syndicates’, the minister said: “The religious affairs ministry will take action against such syndicates if the allegations are proved.”