The New Nation - Internet Edition

Staff Reporter

Return of Hajj flights began and 318 non-ballotee hajis returned home from Jeddah in Saudi Arabia yesterday.

Religious Affairs Secretary Mohammad Ataur Rahman received the hajis at Zia International Airport at 3:45am.

Meanwhile, Biman Bangladesh Airlines begins the operations of 85 post-hajj flights yesterday. A total of three flights will be operated daily.

According to the Hajj office, the first flight of about 543 ballotee hajis will arrive at 10:35am on Tuesday.

Some of the returning hajis complained that they performed the Hajj well but had to face problems at Jeddah to procure holy water of 'Zam Zam.'

"It may take until first week of the next month to bring all the hajis back and Boeing 747 and DC 10 will fly the hajis home," said a Biman official.

Some 47,407 Bangladeshi pilgrims including 5,572 ballotee hajis went to Makkah to perform Hajj this year.

According to Biman Bangladesh Airlines press release, Biman carried 77 per cent of the total pilgrims from Bangladesh. Some 2.5 million devoted Muslims from all parts of the world converged on Makkah the annual ritual of Hajj this year.

Biman will operate three hajj-flights direct to Chittagong from Jeddah.

Earlier, the national flag carrier leased a wide-bodied Boeing 747 aircraft to ease the burden of hajj operation as the airline has severe aircraft constraint.