DHAKA: The first hajj flight of this year took off from Dhaka for Saudi Arabia on Saturday afternoon.

Bangladesh Airlines Boeing-747-419 carrying the first batch of 419 pilgrims left the Shahjalal International Airport at 1:40pm.

Civil Aviation and Tourism Minister Farooq Khan and State Minister for Religious Affairs Advocate Shahjahan Mia inaugurated the first flight.

Earlier, the pilgrims have been brought to the airport from Ashkona hajj camp.

Airport sources said second flight of the day DC-10 model aircraft is schedule to take off with 310 pilgrims at around 4:30pm while Boeing A-777 carrying the third flight batch of 542 pilgrims to fly for Saudi Arabia at around 7:40pm.

This year 1,589 pilgrims will perform Hajj in government management and 87,590 pilgrims under private management.

Of them, Bangladesh Biman will carry 45,000 pilgrims and Saudi Arabian Airlines will carry the rest others pilgrims.

BDST: 1445 HRS, SEP 07, 2013
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