Some 91,823 pilgrims, almost double the last year’s number, have safely reached Saudi Arabia to perform hajj, said Shafique Alam Mehdi, secretary of civil aviation and tourism ministry yesterday.
Of them, 85,090 went to Saudi Arabia on private arrangement while the remaining ones through the government management.
The secretary at a conference at the Biman headquarters said, “It is a matter of joy that we successfully completed the first phase of hajj-flight operation, and now we are preparing for smooth return of hajis from November 21 to December 22.”
Usually Biman and Saudi Arabian airlines carry hajj pilgrims, but this year the government had to arrange for eight other airlines to fly such a huge number of pilgrims for the first time.
The national carrier this year flew 44,616 passengers while Saudi Arabian Airlines 19,781 passengers. The remaining pilgrims travelled by Gulf Air, Kuwait Airways, Qatar Airways, Bahrain Air, Air Arabia, Emirates Airlines, GMG Airlines and Jet Airways.
Shafique said the government formed a taskforce to ensure smooth hajj-flight operation.
This year the ministry’s performance of handling hajj flights was better than any other years in history because the taskforce is getting timely response from other related ministries.
The secretary of the civil aviation ministry also said the ministry sent one representative to Saudi Arabia to look after the problems of pilgrims.
Besides, 40 people from other ministries are there for their [pilgrims] help.
Responding to a query about the steps the government has taken to help hajis handle luggage while returning, he said a team of 70 members would go there for luggage handling at the airports in Saudi Arabia.
