The first Hajj flight of the year, carrying over 400 passengers, departed from Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport towards Jeddah at 2:15 AM on Monday, April 28. Passengers expressed satisfaction with the new arrangements, claiming they felt more at ease compared to previous years. The Hajj process this year is expected to run smoothly, according to religious advisors, though concerns have been raised about visa complications that could potentially affect the journey of around 4,000 to 5,000 pilgrims. The first day of the Hajj flights will see a total of 10 flights transporting 4,180 passengers to Saudi Arabia. The formal inauguration of the Hajj journey took place on Monday evening, led by Religious Affairs Adviser A.F.M. Khalid Hossain, with the attendance of the Saudi Arabian Ambassador and the leaders of the Hajj Agencies Association of Bangladesh (HAAB). The adviser also noted that no one will be allowed to travel for Hajj through ministries other than the Ministry of Religious Affairs, and this year’s Hajj delegation will be smaller by around 100 people compared to the previous year.