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SYLHET, May 14, 2025 (BSS) – The first Hajj flight of the season from Sylhet departed for Madinah today, marking the beginning of this year’s direct Hajj flight operations from the northeastern division.

The national flag carrier Biman Bangladesh Airlines operated the flight, which took off from Osmani International Airport at 5:30 pm with 418 pilgrims on board, bound for the holy city of Madinah in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

According to Biman officials, a total of five dedicated Hajj flights will be operated from Sylhet this year to facilitate the journey for pilgrims in the region. While today’s flight was destined for Madinah, the remaining four flights will operate on the Sylhet–Jeddah route on May 23, 25, 26, and 29.

Unlike Dhaka-bound Hajj pilgrims who benefit from completing both Bangladeshi and Saudi immigration under the "Road to Makkah" initiative, Sylhet-origin pilgrims will undergo Saudi immigration procedures upon arrival at the destination airport.

To mark the occasion, a special prayer session and inaugural ceremony were held at the airport.

Shahnewaz Talukder, Biman’s Sylhet Station Manager, presided over the ceremony, while Shafiul Alam, Joint Secretary of the Ministry of Civil Aviation and Tourism, attended as the chief guest.

Among others, Hafiz Uddin Ahmed, Director of Osmani International Airport; Anwar Uz Zaman, Additional Deputy Commissioner of Sylhet; Ziaur Rahman Khan Rezwan, President of ATAB Sylhet Zone; and Md. Abdul Haque, Chairman of Hajj Agencies Association of Bangladesh (HAAB) Sylhet Zone, were present as special guests.

The prayer session was led by Hafiz Maulana Asjad Ahmed, Khatib and Imam of the Hazrat Shahjalal (R.) Dargah Mosque.

Officials said around 2,700 pilgrims are scheduled to perform Hajj from Sylhet this year. Of them, 2,095 will fly directly on Biman flights from Sylhet, while the remaining pilgrims will travel via Dhaka.