Bangladesh’s first hajj flight reaches Saudi Arabia

The first Hajj flight from Bangladesh, carrying 419 pilgrims, has arrived in Saudi Arabia.

A Biman Bangladesh Airlines flight (BG 3001) landed at King Abdulaziz International Airport in Jeddah at 4:20 am local time.

Bangladesh Ambassador to Saudi Arabia Md Delwar Hossain and Counsellor (Hajj) Md Kamrul Islam received the pilgrims upon arrival. Flowers and refreshment kits were distributed among them, UNB reports.

Also present at the airport were Bangladesh Consul General in Jeddah Md Shakhawat Hossain, Assistant Seasonal Hajj Officer Md Ruhul Amin, Head of Operations at the Jeddah Hajj Terminal Yahya Radi, and Raed Bakshawn, manager of Saudi service provider Nusuk Marhaba, which assists pilgrims.

The inaugural Hajj flight departed from Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport at 12:20 am on Friday.

According to the Ministry of Religious Affairs, a total of 14 flights are scheduled to operate on the first day—six by Biman Bangladesh Airlines, four by Saudia, and four by Flynas.

A total of 78,500 pilgrims from Bangladesh are expected to perform Hajj in 2026. Of them, 4,565 will travel under government arrangements, while 73,935 will go through private Hajj agencies.

Under an agreement with Saudi authorities, Biman Bangladesh Airlines will transport 50 percent of the pilgrims. Of the remaining, Saudia will carry 35 percent and Flynas 15 percent.

Subject to moon sighting, Hajj is expected to be held on May 26.

Return flights are scheduled to begin on May 30 and continue until July 1.