The first Hajj flight of the 2026 season departed Shah Amanat International Airport in Chittagong on Sunday evening, carrying 414 passengers bound for Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, marking the formal opening of this year's Hajj airlift operations from the port city.

National flag carrier Biman Bangladesh Airlines Flight BG-135 lifted off at 6:52 pm, transporting 371 pilgrims from Chittagong and 41 from Dhaka, along with two non-Hajj passengers.

State Minister for Land and Chittagong Hill Tracts Affairs, Barrister Mir Mohammad Helal Uddin, MP, inaugurated the flight as the chief guest. Group Captain Sheikh Abdullah Alamgir, Director of Shah Amanat International Airport, attended as a special guest. Biman's Chittagong District Manager Al Mamun Farooq presided over the ceremony.

State Minister Helal Uddin enquired about the airport's Hajj management arrangements for the season and expressed satisfaction with the measures taken by the airport authority and Biman Bangladesh Airlines. He also highlighted the government's positive intent regarding the expansion of Shah Amanat Airport's terminal facilities.

The minister boarded the aircraft and met with departing pilgrims to exchange greetings, distributing special gift items on his behalf and expressing hope that all passengers would complete their Hajj successfully and return home in good health.

HAB Chittagong Chairman Mohammad Shariatullah, representatives of HAB and ATAB, and senior officials from various departments of the airport also attended the ceremony.

According to officials, Biman Bangladesh Airlines will operate a total of 16 flights from Shah Amanat International Airport this season, ferrying approximately 6,000 pilgrims to Saudi Arabia. The final outbound Hajj flight is scheduled for May 20, with return flights commencing on May 31, 2026.