The annual pilgrimage of Hajj has commenced, with Muslims from around the globe traveling to Mecca to fulfill their religious obligations. Last year, 1.8 million pilgrims journeyed to Saudi Arabia for Hajj, and this year's season has already begun.

The first batch of 283 pilgrims from India arrived in Saudi Arabia on a Saudia Airlines flight last Thursday, marking the start of this year's pilgrimage. The Saudi government has implemented various measures to welcome and facilitate the pilgrims.

Engineer Saleh Al-Jasser, Saudi Minister of Transport and Logistics Services, affirmed the government's commitment to providing comprehensive transport services for pilgrims throughout the Hajj season. Emphasizing Saudi Arabia's dedication to managing the pilgrimage effectively and ensuring the safe return of pilgrims to their respective countries.

Several groups of pilgrims have already landed in Madinah, where they are being warmly received by the Department of Religion and Guidance at the Prophet's Mosque. Pilgrims are being greeted with distributions of the Holy Quran and flowers, with Secretary Muhammad Al Khadiri personally meeting and presenting religious literature to various pilgrim groups.

This year, Saudi Arabia's religious department has incorporated new technologies, including artificial intelligence, to enhance the convenience of Hajj pilgrims. The country has arranged 7,700 flights and 27,000 bus services across six airports to accommodate the influx of pilgrims.

Special high-speed rail and metro systems have been made available to facilitate the performance of Hajj rituals. It is estimated that over two million pilgrims from around the world will participate in Hajj this year, with at least one million expected to perform the pilgrimage within Saudi Arabia itself. Saudi public service organizations are in the final stages of preparation to ensure the proper facilitation of the anticipated three million pilgrims.

In addition, Bangladesh Biman's inaugural Hajj flight carrying 419 pilgrims has already landed in Saudi Arabia. The flight, which departed from Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport, was officially welcomed at King Abdulaziz Airport in Jeddah by Ambassador Mohammad Javed Patwari. This marks the beginning of Biman Bangladesh Airlines' dedicated Hajj operations for the year 2024.