Dhaka: The first hajj flight carrying 401 Bangladeshi pilgrims to Saudi Arabia begin on Thursday.

A Biman Bangladesh Airlines departed from Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport at about 8:10am.

Civil Aviation and Tourism Minister Rashed Khan Menon, Religious Affairs Minister Matiur Rahman and high officials of the two ministries concerned saw the pilgrims off at the airport.

The pilgrims and government officials also took part in a special prayer before the flight took off from the airport.

Earlier, on Wednesday, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina formally inaugurates hajj programme at the Hajji Camp in Dhaka’s Ashkona area.

This time some 10,000 pilgrims will perform hajj from Bangladesh under government management while 91,758 under private management. Last year, the number was 5,000 under government management and 1,08,868 under private management.

Biman Bangladesh Airlines and the Saudi Arabian Airlines will carry the Hajj pilgrims.

The total number of hajj pilgrims to be sent from Bangladesh has been reduced by 12,110, according to the amended Hajj Policy approved by the Cabinet in April last.

Under the revised hajj policy and package, each Hajj pilgrim will make his or her all payments, including house rent, transport and catering electronically (e-payment) while the payment for Qurbani to be made through online system of the Islamic Development Bank (IDB).

This year, every hajj agency will be able to carry at least 150 pilgrims instead of 50 while there will be three 'Muallem' in every hajj flight for 419 hajj pilgrims.

The Saudi Arabian General Authority of Civil Aviation (GACA) has approved 112 dedicated pre-hajj flights and 32 scheduled flights for Biman Bangladesh Airlines.

It has also approved 105 dedicated post-hajj flights and 29 scheduled flights for Biman Bangladesh airlines.

The government has made all arrangements to operate hajj flights from Dhaka to Jeddah from 4 August to 5 September.

The return hajj flights will start on 17 September and continue till 15 October.

A 292-member Bangladesh hajj team comprising physicians, pharmacists, nurses/brothers and assistants will go to Saudi Arabia to provide healthcare facilities to hajj pilgrims.