The Bangladesh government is covering the Hajj expenses – excluding airfare – of 23 pilgrims. The Ministry of Religious Affairs issued a list naming the selected pilgrims, based on recommendations from the Prime Minister's Office.
According to a press release issued Saturday, those going for Hajj with state funding only need to pay Tk 1,97,797 for air tickets, and the selected 23 pilgrims can go to Saudi Arabia on June 10 (earlier or later) and return to Bangladesh on July 15.
These pilgrims will not get any financial aid or daily allowance from the government, by Hajj office will pay them Tk 35,000 each to spend on food during Hajj. The ministry added that each pilgrim will have to take an additional 1,000 Riyals to Saudi Arabia for Qurbani.
First Hajj flight leaves Sunday
The first Hajj flight, carrying 419 pilgrims, is scheduled to leave Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport (HSIA) for Saudi Arabia on Sunday.
"A Biman Bangladesh Airlines will operate the first Hajj flight from HSIA to Jeddah on Sunday at 3:20am," Biman's spokesperson Tahera Khondoker told BSS.
This year, a total of 1,22,221 pilgrims from Bangladesh are going to perform the Hajj this year. The number of Hajj pilgrims from Bangladesh was 57,585 last year due to Covid restrictions.
Before the Covid-19 pandemic, 127,198 pilgrims from Bangladesh performed Hajj in 2019.
The Hajj is expected to be held on June 27 depending on the sighting of the moon.
