Dhaka: The first flight to take Hajj pilgrims to Saudi Arabia will start from 16 August, Minister for Religious Affairs Principal Motiur Rahman said on Wednesday.

‘A total of 101,758 pilgrims will perform Hajj from Bangladesh this year,’ he said this while presiding over an inter-ministerial meeting at the conference room of the religious affairs ministry.

The main objective of the meeting is to ensure proper hajj management by using modern information technology as well as providing other services.

The Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina is expected to inaugurate the Hajj programme 2015 formally at Hajj Camp in Ashkona on August 13 and she will exchange greetings with hajj passengers during her visit, said the minister.

Ensuring health services of hajj passengers, the religious affairs minister said health examination vaccination and distribution of health certificate programme has started at all civil surgeon offices across the country and the seven centers in the capital from today.

Rahman said Bangladesh Biman and Saudi Airlines have already announced their flights schedule to ensure safe communication of hajj passengers. Biman and

Saudi airlines will carry all hajj passengers this year.

Representatives of all ministry, department and organizations were present at the meeting conducted by secretary to religious affairs Chowdhury Babul Hasan.