Biman Bangladesh Airlines is not afraid of the cancellation of hajj flights this year as the national airliner has already sold about 99 percent tickets of its 365 pilgrimage flights, starting from July 4.

Biman Bangladesh Airlines yesterday got permission to operate 12 additional hajj flights paving the way for trips of all intending pilgrims to Saudi Arabia, a top official of religious affairs ministry said.

Biman Bangladesh Airlines have lost Tk 40 crore in losses in the spate of hajj flight cancellations, its Managing Director AM Mosaddique Ahmed says. Meanwhile, two more of today's flights have been cancelled.

Biman Bangladesh Airlines has been forced to cancel four more hajj flights scheduled for yesterday and today due to shortage of pilgrims.

Saudi Grand Mufti Sheikh Abdul Aziz Al-Asheikh, also the chairman of the Saudi Council of Senior Scholars, criticises those planning to perform Hajj through unfair means.