Dhaka: The first Biman Bangladesh airlines hajj flight started from Monday.

The flight carrying Bangladeshi pilgrims took off from Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport (HSIA) with 418 pilgrims at about 7:55am.

The flight will reach Jeddah at 11.30am local time, said a Biman official.

Civil Aviation and Tourism Minister Rashed Khan Menon and Religious Affairs Minister Principal Motiur Rahman inaugurated the first hajj flight at the HSIA.

Some 1, 27,198 pilgrims from Bangladesh are set to perform this year’s Hajj. Biman Bangladesh Airlines will carry 63,599, the half of the total hajj pilgrims and rest of the half will be carried by Saudi Airlines, the national carrier of Saudi Arabia.

The Biman’s post hajj flight will start on 6 September and end on 5 October.

The national flag carrier will operate 177 pre-Hajj flights, 144 dedicated and 33 scheduled and 169 post hajj-flight, 139 dedicated and 30 scheduled.