The first Hajj flight of 2025 is scheduled to depart on April 29, announced Dr AFM Khalid Hossain, Advisor to the Ministry of Religious Affairs, during a press conference held at the Secretariat on Tuesday.
He informed that visa processing for pilgrims will be completed shortly. Starting April 29, Bangladeshi pilgrims will begin their journey to Saudi Arabia as per the scheduled flights.
However, the Ministry of Religious Affairs has expressed concern that 10,487 pilgrims may not be able to travel due to delays in submitting and approving house rental requests on the designated online platform. Dr Hossain clarified that if any pilgrim fails to perform Hajj due to negligence or mishandling by a Hajj agency, the respective agency will be held accountable.
Thanks to the ministry's direct oversight, strict monitoring, and continuous follow-up, all private agencies successfully completed essential preparations—such as securing tents in Mina and Arafat and finalizing catering agreements—within the Saudi government's deadline of February 14.
According to the Hajj Agencies Association of Bangladesh (HAAB), a total of 87,100 Bangladeshi pilgrims are expected to perform Hajj this year. Of them, 5,200 will travel under government arrangements, while 81,900 will go through private agencies.
The holy Hajj for the Islamic year 1446 is expected to take place on June 4 or 5, 2025, depending on the sighting of the moon.
