The first Hajj flight of Biman Bangladesh Airlines carrying 418 Bangladeshi pilgrims took off from Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport in the capital on Monday morning.

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

The Biman flight which left the airport at 7:55am reached an airport in Jeddah around 11:13 am (local time), general manager (Public Relations) of Biman Bangladesh Airlines Shakil Meraz told UNB.

Meanwhile, two more flights with Hajj pilgrims left the Shahjalal airport on Monday, reports the UNB.

The 2nd flight with 419 Hajj pilgrims left for Saudi Arabia at 11:55am while 3rd one at 7:55pm with 419 pilgrims.

Besides, another regular flight of the national flag carrier with Hajj pilgrims is scheduled to leave the airport at 8:40 pm.

Earlier on Saturday, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina inaugurated the hajj programme for 2017 at the Hajji Camp at the city’s Ashkona.

A total of 177 flights will carry the Hajj pilgrims till August 26.

The return flight will start on September 6 and continue till October 5. The number of return flights will be 169.­­

Biman Bangladesh Airlines will carry 50 percent of Bangladeshi pilgrims while Saudi Airlines the rest of the pilgrims.

Some 127,198 pilgrims will perform Hajj from Bangladesh this year under government and private managements. Of them, 4,230 pilgrims will perform Hajj under the government management.

From this year, flights carrying the Hajj pilgrims will also go to Madinah.