Flights for 1.29 lakh Hajj pilgrims ready
A total of 1,06,965 people will perform Hajj this year while the civil aviation ministry has already arranged flights for 1,29,549 Hajj pilgrims to Saudi Arabia, Civil Aviation and Tourism Minister G M Quader said yesterday.
The Hajj flight will begin on September 29 and continue until October 31 while the return flight is scheduled to start from November 8, he said.
Quader said the ministry has arranged third carriers apart from national flag carrier Biman Bangladesh Limited and Saudi Arabian Airlines to carry huge number of pilgrims.
"There is no alternative to arranging third carriers as the number of Hajj pilgrims has rapidly increased in last two years," he said.
The number of Bangladeshi Hajj pilgrims was more than 90,000 last year that was only around 50,000 in 2009.
Bangladesh Airlines and Civil Aviation Authority have already signed separate agreements with 11 other airlines as third carrier to ensure journey of all Hajj pilgrims on time, Quader said.
Under the arrangements, Biman will carry 36,225 pilgrims while Saudi Arabian Airlines 20,000, NAS Air 24,624, GMG Airlines 14,000, Gulf Air 9,000, Emirate Airlines 7,000, RAK airways 4,000, Kuwait Airways 3,000, United Airways 3,000, Air Arabia 2,500, Qatar Airways 2,300, Jet Airways 2,000 and Etihad Airways 1,900.
"We can overcome all possible risk of failing to carry the devotees if all quarters concerned follow our instructions," he said.
Civil Aviation and Religious Affairs Ministries will jointly form a monitoring cell to look after the flight management and a task force to supervise the entire Hajj management, he said.
Of the Hajj devotees, 15,000 will perform their Hajj under the government management while the rest are under private arrangements, religious affairs ministry said.
For all latest news, follow The Daily Star's Google News channel.
Comments