Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Wednesday opened the hajj programme 2024 (1445 hijri) in the capital’s Ashkona area.
The premier later exchanged greetings with the hajj pilgrims here at the Hajj camp in Ashkona.
The first hajj flight is scheduled to depart Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport for Saudi Arabia on Thursday.
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The dedicated hajj flights will also be operated from Chattogram and Sylhet airports landing in Jeddah and Medina airports.
This year, a total of 85,257 pilgrims from Bangladesh are going to perform the holy hajj. Of them, 4,562 pilgrims will perform hajj under the government management, while 80, 695 pilgrims under the private management.
The hajj is expected to be held on June 15, subject to the sighting of the moon.
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Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan, Civil Aviation and Tourism Minister Muhammad Faruk Khan, Dhaka North City Corporation Mayor Md. Atiqul Islam, Chairman of the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Religious Affairs Ministry Mohammad Huchamuddin Chowdhury, Ambassador of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to Bangladesh Essa Yousef Essa Alduhailan and president of Hajj Agencies Association of Bangladesh (HAAB) Shahadat Hossain Taslim also spoke on the occasion.
Religious Affairs Minister Md Faridul Haque Khan presided over the inaugural function, while Religious Affairs Secretary Md A Hamid Zamadder delivered the welcome speech.