The first hajj flight of the season from Chattogram Shah Amanat International Airport (CSAIA) departed today for the holy city of Medina, carrying 419 pilgrims aboard Biman Bangladesh Airlines flight BG-137.

The Boeing-777 flight took off at 5:40 pm, marking the beginning of 17 scheduled hajj flights from CSAIA this year, said airport director Group Captain Sheikh Abdullah Alamgir. Of these, 14 will head to Jeddah and 3 to Medina.

City Mayor Dr. Shahadat Hossen inaugurated the hajj flight operations at a brief ceremony attended by Biman and hajj association officials.

CSAIA is expected to facilitate the travel of 6,618 pilgrims to Saudi Arabia during this hajj season.

MN/