Hajj flights will begin on Monday although many hajj agencies are yet to arrange accommodation in Makkah and Medina for the pilgrims.
Besides, out of 37,000 non-ballottee hajj pilgrims, only 162 have got visas so far.
Meanwhile, Religious Affairs Adviser Maj Gen (Retd) ASM Matiur Rahman yesterday inaugurated a camp at Ashkona near Zia International Airport for the hajj pilgrims who will stay there before leaving for Jeddah.
Biman authorities reduced the airfare by Tk 5,250 on hajj flights which will be operated from November 12 to 15.
The number of ballottee hajj pilgrims (who perform hajj under government management) stands at 5,583 this year while the number of non-ballottee hajjis is about 37,000.
The number of hajj pilgrims was about 60,000 last year.
Although Biman Bangladesh Airlines Ltd will begin operating hajj flights from November 12, the hajj agencies will start providing it with the names and tickets of non-ballottee hajj pilgrims from November 18.
Biman MD MA Momen told The Daily Star that they would have to cancel two scheduled hajj flights out of the three on the first day as the hajj agencies are yet to send them the names and tickets of the pilgrims.
“We had to cancel four more flights on November 13 and 14 due to the same reason,” he said.
Another high official of Biman told The Daily Star that Saudi Civil Aviation authorities fine Biman Tk 2 lakh for cancellation of a hajj flight.
President of Hajj Agencies Association of Bangladesh (HAAB) Mohammed Faruque admitted that they could not rent houses and hotel rooms for the pilgrims so far.
He also admitted that the task of renting house and hotel rooms is delayed, as they are not getting fitness certificate from Saudi authorities in respect of those to be rented.
However, the HAAB president assured that the hajj pilgrims would not face any problems regarding their accommodation and all the tasks would be completed within next 10 days.
Biman announced its two-month-long hajj flight schedule on October 24. The first hajj flight will leave for Jeddah on October.
About 42,500 pilgrims are expected to perform hajj this year. Of them, Saudi Airlines will carry 10,000.
Tags: Bangladesh, Bangladesh Economy, Caretaker Government, Economy
Categories: Bangla, Bangladesh, Bangladesh Economy, Bangladesh News, Daily Bangladesh News, Economy, News
