Saudi Gazette report

DHAKA — The first Hajj flight of pilgrims, who are benefiting from the Makkah Route initiative, departed from Bangladesh on Sunday through the initiative's hall at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport, Dhaka.

The departure operation was attended by the Saudi Ambassador to Bangladesh Essa Yussef Essa Al-Duhailan, Minister of State for Religious Affairs of Bangladesh Mohammed Faridul Haq Khan, and Minister of Civil Aviation and Tourism of Bangladesh Mahbub Ali.

Among the attendees, Shahadat Hossain Taslim, president of Hajj Agencies Association of Bangladesh, in addition to the Air Vice Marshal Muhammad Mafidur Rahman.

It is noteworthy the Makkah Route is one of the Interior Ministry's initiatives within the Guests of God Service Program, one of the programs of the Kingdom's Vision 2030, that aims to complete the pilgrims' procedures from their countries.

The procedures that the Makkah Route conducts to the pilgrims starts with issuing the electronic visa, then taking the pilgrims vital characteristics, and also completing the passport procedures at the airport of the country of departure after verifying the availability of health requirements.

Additionally, among the initiative's contributions, it is also coding and sorting luggage according to transportation and housing arrangements in Saudi Arabia.

The pilgrims are transported directly upon their arrival on buses to take them to their residence in Makkah and Madinah with designated lanes, while the service agencies deliver their luggage to their area of residence.