DHAKA: First hajj flight, with 409 pilgrims to perform hajj this year, left Dhaka for Saudi Arabia on Wednesday morning.

Civil aviation minister Rashed Khan Menon saw off the first batch of pilgrims, who left by a Bangladesh Biman fight that  took off from the Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport around 7:05am.

Mentioning the condition of hajj management is better than any other years, the minister said, “A total of 1,00,000 pilgrims from Bangladesh would perform Hajj in Saudi Arabia and of them only 1,500 will be under the government management and the rests under private arrangement.

“This time there is no need of waiting for check in at Mecca and Madina except Jeddah,” he added. The government has also taken alternative steps for making easy Jam Jam water carrying for the pilgrims.

Civil aviation minister also informed that Saudi Arabian Airlines will also join with Bangladesh Biman to carry Bangladeshi pilgrims from September 1.

Besides, the return flights will start on October 8 and continue until November 8.

BDST: 0957 HRS, AUG 27, 2014/updated 1102 hrs