ZCZC
BSS-27
HAJJ-FLIGHT
326 hajj flights with 1.11 lakh pilgrims reach Saudi Arabia
DHAKA, Aug 12, 2018 (BSS) – A total of 326 flights carrying 1,11,256 Bangladeshi hajj pilgrims reached Saudi Arabia till date to perform the holy hajj this year, said an official of the Hajj office here.
“The holy hajj is likely to be held on August 20, 2018 (based on moon sighting),” Assistant Hajj Officer of Dhaka Hajj Office Abdul Maleque told BSS.
He said everyday some 4000 hajj pilgrims boarding 10 flights are departed for Saudi Arabia and the hajj pilgrims are welcomed there by Councilor (Hajj) Muhammad Maksudur Rahman and other Hajj officials of Mecca.
Maleque said 727 pilgrims cannot go to Saudi Arabia for visa problems while 15 pilgrims under government arrangement cannot go for different reasons.
The official said 326 flights carrying a total of 1,11,256 pilgrims have reached Saudi Arabia till 9am today. Of the devotees, 6755 will perform hajj under government and 1,04,470 under private arrangements.
Of the 326 flights, 159 are run by Biman Bangladesh Airlines while 167 others Saudi Airlines flights, he added.
Maleque said the hajj flight operation began on July 14 and it would continue till August 15. Besides, the return flight of the hajj pilgrims would start on August 27 and end on September 25.
Hajj office sources said 32 hajj pilgrims including 6 women died in Saudia Arabia till Saturday (August 11). Of them, 25 died in Mecca, 5 in Medina and 2 in Jeddah.
BSS/ASG/MAR/MKD/QC/1714 hrs