Dhaka: The first hajj flight will leave here at 8.35 am on August 16 with 419 pilgrims for Jeddah in Saudi Arabia.

Biman Bangladesh Airlines will carry 51,000 pilgrims out of 101,758 from August 16 to September 17 by 145 pre-hajj flights including 115 dedicated flights and 30 scheduled flights, said a Biman press release.

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina today inaugurated the Hajj activities at Ashkona Hajj camp. Civil Aviation and Tourism Minister Rashed Khan Menon, MP, and Religious Minister Principal Matiur Rahman, MP would see off the first flight.

The post hajj flights would begin on September 27 and continue till October 28 with 140 flights including 109 dedicated flights and 31 scheduled flights.

The national flag carrier has taken all-out measures to ensure smooth transportation of the hajj passengers this year, the release said.

Biman has fixed its fare at USD 1,515 for each pilgrim on the Dhaka-Jeddah-Dhaka route for the economy class, while USD 2,500 for business class.

Some 2,600 hajis would perform Hajj this year under the government management, while 99,158 pilgrims would go to Jeddah under private management, the release added.