Hajj flights to carry Bangladeshi pilgrims to Saudi Arabia will begin on August 4 and continue till September 5.

The return flights would operate from September 17 to October 16, Civil Aviation and Tourism Minister Rashed Khan Menon said yesterday.

He was talking to reporters following an inter-ministerial meeting on Hajj preparations at the Secretariat.

The holy Hajj is likely to be on September 12, subject to moon sighting.

Around 1,01,758 Bangladeshis are expected to perform Hajj this year. Of them, only 10,000 would perform it under government management while the rest under private management. 

Half of the pilgrims would go to Saudi Arabia by Biman Bangladesh Airlines flights while the other half by Saudi Arabian Airlines Saudia.  Each traveller would be able to carry maximum 46kg of luggage.

On January 11, the government announced two Hajj packages -- setting Tk 3.05 lakh as minimum and Tk 3.6 lakh as maximum costs -- for anyone seeking to make the pilgrimage.

Hajj Agencies Association of Bangladesh (Haab) has announced that each Bangladeshi would have to pay minimum Tk 3.05 lakh for performing this year's Hajj under private management.