Hajj flight operations from Chattogram are set to begin on 19 April, with 417 pilgrims scheduled to depart on the inaugural flight from Shah Amanat International Airport.
A total of 78,500 Bangladeshi pilgrims will perform Haj in Saudi Arabia this year, including 5,675 from the Chattogram region. While flights from Dhaka are expected to begin on 18 April, the first flight from the port city is scheduled to depart at 5:30pm on 19 April, although the timing may be adjusted slightly for operational requirements.
State Minister for Civil Aviation and Tourism M Rashiduzzaman Millat said Prime Minister Tarique Rahman will inaugurate this year’s Haj flights from Dhaka at 2pm on 18 April. He also said the cost of Hajj travel has been reduced by Tk12,000 per ticket compared to the previous government.
He added that more than 78,000 pilgrims will be transported this year without the operation of any chartered flights.
According to official data, 16 Hajj flights will operate from Chattogram this season. Of these, 12 will fly directly to Jeddah, while the remaining four will travel to Medina. The final Haj flight from Dhaka is scheduled for 19 May, followed by Chattogram on 20 May.
Farid Ahmed Mazumder, Secretary General of the Hajj Agencies Association of Bangladesh (HAAB), said 5,675 pilgrims from the Chittagong region have completed registration this year.
He noted a continued decline in pilgrim numbers from the region, compared to around 6,500 last year, 8,000 in 2024, over 10,000 in 2023, and nearly 12,000 in 2022.
Meanwhile, preparations by travel agencies and relevant organisations in Chattogram have reached their final stages to ensure a smooth departure for pilgrims.
