Dhaka: The hajj flights carrying Bangladeshi pilgrims to Saudi Arabia to perform hajj this year will begin on 24 July.

The first hajj flight will take off from Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport at about 7:55am and will reach at Jeddah in Saudi Arabia at about local time 11:30am.

Civil Aviation and Tourism Minister Rashed Khan Menon declared the hajj flights schedule during a press conference at the ministry.

The minister said the last hajj flights will leave Bangladesh on 26 August. The return flights will begin on 6 September, while the last flights to bring back Bangladeshi pilgrims will reach on 5 October.

Apart from the senior officials of Civil Aviation and Tourism Ministry, owners of several hajj agencies were present during the press briefing.

Rashed Khan Menon said we have taken enough measure to avoid flight delays.

The national flag carrier will carry 50 percent of the pilgrims while Saudi Airlines the remaining 50 percent.

Some 127,198 pilgrims will perform hajj from Bangladesh this year under government and private managements.