District Correspondent, Sylhet: This year, 2,675 pilgrims from Sylhet are traveling to Saudi Arabia to perform Hajj. Among Sylhet’s total 30 Hajj agencies, 21 agencies are operating this year. Of the total pilgrims, 2,090 will fly directly from Sylhet to Saudi Arabia, while the remaining 585 pilgrims will travel from Sylhet to Dhaka and then proceed to Saudi Arabia.
These details were shared at a press conference on Monday evening, organized by the Sylhet region of the Hajj Agencies Association of Bangladesh (HAAB), to discuss the final preparations for this year’s Hajj.
The press conference, moderated by HAAB Sylhet Region Secretary Md. Abdul Qadir, featured a written statement read by HAAB Sylhet Region Chairman Md. Abdul Haque.
In his statement, the HAAB Chairman announced that the first flight carrying 418 passengers would depart from Sylhet Osmani International Airport to Medina on May 14. All preparations have already been completed. On behalf of the HAAB Sylhet region, heartfelt congratulations were extended to all Hajj pilgrims. He also thanked the Ministry of Religious Affairs, Biman Bangladesh Airlines, and other government authorities for their support.
He added that a total of five direct Hajj flights would operate from Sylhet this year. Of the total 2,675 pilgrims from Sylhet, 2,090 will travel directly on these flights, while the remaining 585 will travel via Dhaka. Under the “Road to Makkah” initiative, immigration for passengers departing from Dhaka is being completed in Bangladesh, whereas immigration for those departing from Osmani International Airport will take place in Saudi Arabia. Except for the first flight, the remaining flights will operate on the Sylhet-Jeddah route. The schedule for subsequent flights is May 23, 25, 26, and 29.
The Chairman also mentioned that the increased quota of 1,000 pilgrims per agency this year posed some challenges, but they were resolved. Although the Ministry of Religious Affairs approved 30 Hajj agencies in the Sylhet region, only 21 agencies actively operated this year, completing all activities for Sylhet’s pilgrims.
This year, the 21 agencies registered pilgrims as follows:
Aqaba Trading Corporation: 78 pilgrims
Al Mansur Air Service: 102 pilgrims
Jatrik Travels: 7 pilgrims
Sipar Air Service: 100 pilgrims
City Overseas: 159 pilgrims
Elite Travels: 235 pilgrims
Alpha Travels International: 31 pilgrims
Latif Travels Pvt. Ltd.: 545 pilgrims
Shiplu Overseas: 21 pilgrims
Khaja Air Liner: 167 pilgrims
Travelon Air Services: 107 pilgrims
Al Ihsan Travels: 156 pilgrims
Ababil Air Service: 50 pilgrims
Al Sharifain Travels and Tours: 139 pilgrims
Discovery Sylhet Travels and Tours: 9 pilgrims
Ibra Travels and Tours: 175 pilgrims
Soma International Services: 215 pilgrims
Tashfiq Travels and Tours: 46 pilgrims
Nibras International Travels: 77 pilgrims
Rabbani Overseas Aviation: 170 pilgrims
Sunshine Travels: 86 pilgrims
Previously, agencies could send a maximum of 300 and a minimum of 100 pilgrims. This year, the quota was increased to 1,000 and may rise to 2,000 next year. While there were some challenges due to the new quota, they are manageable, the Chairman remarked.
Other speakers and attendees at the press conference included former HAAB Sylhet Zone Chairman Khandaker Sipar Ahmed, Motahar Hossain Babul, Ataur Rahman, Zahirul Kabir Chowdhury Shiru, ATAB Sylhet Region Chairman Ziaur Rahman Khan Rezwan, HAAB Central Executive Committee members Khandaker Israar Ahmed Rocky and Najib Bin Mansur, and Sylhet Zone member Mohammad Ali.
