Bangladesh’s first Hajj pilgrimage flight of this year took off Saturday afternoon from the Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport with 582 pilgrims on board.
The Muslim devotees departed the country in their spiritual pledge to perform the Hajj which is considered as the fifth pillar of Islam. The pilgrims will have to complete some religious rituals in the Saudi cities of Mecca and Medina.
BG-5011 of Biman Bangladesh Airlines flew at 1:40 pm, officials said.
Civil aviation and tourism minister Faruk Khan and state minister for religious affairs Shahjahan Miah inaugurated the flight with offering prayer at the international departure lounge.
The officials said another Hajj flight of Biman will depart the airport at 4:30 pm with 312 pilgrims on board and flight BG-7011 at 7:40 pm with some 419 on board.
