Biman gets permission to operate 8 special hajj flights

Staff Correspondent: Biman Bangladesh Airlines has got permission to operate 8 special hajj flights from Saudi authorities, paving the way for the trips of all intending pilgrims to Saudi Arabia.

The Saudi authorities on Saturday gave the permission to Biman to operate the special hajj flights.

The flights will be operated to Saudi Arabia tomorrow and the day after tomorrow (August 27 and 28).

Biman Bangladesh Airlines General Manager (public relations) Shakil Meraj confirmed the matter to risingbd this evening.

He said Biman will operate 8 special hajj flights on August 27 and 28 as it got permission from the Saudi authorities to operate them, paving the way for the trips of all intending pilgrims to Saudi Arabia.

As a result, the uncertainty which was raised over sending around 3,000 hajj pilgrims to Saudi Arabia will be removed. 

Of 127,198 scheduled aspirant pilgrims, 951 could not submit their passport for visa even by the last date, although the Saudi authorities extended the timeline for two days, and thus lost all the chances to get the visa this time.

As of Friday, a total of 109,096 pilgrims have reached Saudi Arabia.

risingbd/Dhaka/Aug 26, 2017/Hasan/Amirul