After being closed for two years, the Hajj flights from Bangladesh will resume this year. However, various agencies and stakeholders are concerned that only Biman Bangladesh Airlines and Saudia, Saudi Arabia's national carrier, are permitted to operate the flights, causing potential prices to rise due to monopolisation.

Why is it that only these two airlines are permitted to transport Hajj pilgrims? Is the demand by service organisations to include other airlines in Hajj passenger transportation rational?

In Straight from Star Newsroom, The Daily Star Senior reporter Rashidul Hasan discusses with Debjani Shyama the Hajj agencies' allegations about the Hajj flight management.