Dhaka: The first hajj flight carrying 418 pilgrims left for Saudi Arabia from Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport in Dhaka on Sunday morning.

A Biman Bangladesh Airlines flight, BG 1011, departed from the airport at about 8:55am, said a hajj official.

Civil Aviation and Tourism Minister Rashed Khan Menon, Religious Affairs Minister Matiur Rahman and high officials of the two ministries concerned saw the pilgrims off at the airport.

Three more flights of Biman will carry Bangladeshi pilgrims on Sunday.

Earlier on 12 August, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina inaugurated the hajj programme 2015 at the Hajj Camp at Ashkona in Dhaka.

The hajj flights will continue carrying Bangladesh pilgrims till 18 September this year.

The holy hajj is likely to be performed this year on September 24 subject to moon sighting.

The return hajj flights will begin on 27 September and continue till 28 October, said Civil Aviation and Tourism minister Rashed Khan Menon.

The minister was talking to reporters at his ministry after an inter-ministerial meeting over completion of hajj preparations.

A total of 101,758 pilgrims are expected to perform hajj from Bangladesh this year. The number of Bangladeshi pilgrims was 98,762 last year, the minister said.

Menon said Biman Bangladesh Airlines will carry half of the hajj passengers while Saudi Airlines the remaining ones.