DHAKA, May 8 -- Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Wednesday opened the hajj programme 2024 (1445 hijri) in the capital's Ashkona area.

The premier later exchanged greetings with the hajj pilgrims here at the Hajj camp in Ashkona.

The first hajj flight is scheduled to depart Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport for Saudi Arabia on Thursday.

Bangladesh's Hajj management to be smarter: Minister

The dedicated hajj flights will also be operated from Chattogram and Sylhet airports landing in Jeddah and Medina airports.

This year, a total of 85,257 pilgrims from Bangladesh are going to perform the holy hajj. Of them, 4,562 pilgrims will perform hajj under the government management, while 80, 695 pilgrims under the private management.

The h...