Hajj flight begins December 11

On the other hand, the return Hajj flight will begin January 14.

The monitoring committee, involved in renting houses at Makkah and Madinah for the Bangladeshi Hajj pilgrims, was told at a meeting yesterday.

State Minister for Religious Affairs Mosharref Hossain Shahjahan presided over the meeting at the ministry.

Biman will carry all the ballottee and non-ballottee Hajj pilgrims. Some 2,634 ballottee and 54,130 non-ballottee pilgrims will perform Hajj this year, says a press release of the religious affairs ministry.

The meeting was told that the Hajj management authority has hired houses within the fixed distances from the 'Haram Sharif' at comparatively affordable and low rental charges.

The ministry has already completed all necessary preparations for smooth performance of the Hajj by the pilgrims.

The government has sent adequate medicines to Saudi Arabia and set up medical centres beside the houses rented for Bangladeshi pilgrims.

The number of ambulances has also been increased and a number of volunteers engaged for providing help to the pilgrims round the clock.

Leaflets with necessary information will be distributed among the Hajj pilgrims, who will be able to send fax messages from Makkah to their relatives in Bangladesh.

The meeting also decided to open a control room at the Haji Camp at Ashkona near Zia International Airport.

Religious Affairs secretary Rafiqul Islam, joint secretary Chowdhury Md Ziaul Haque, director general of Islamic Foundation of Bangladesh Md Fazlur Rahman, director at the Prime Minister's Office Dr Mohammad Abu Yousuf and high officials were present at the meeting.