Bangladesh has planned to send a total of 127,198 pilgrims to perform the holy hajj this year.
Religious Affairs Minister Principal Matiur Rahman divulged the information at a press conference at his ministry in Dhaka on Monday.
Of the total, he said, a total of 120,000 pilgrims are expected to perform the hajj in private management while the number of pilgrims under the government management would be 7,198.
The minister said, "We have already signed a hajj agreement with Saudi Arabia successfully. The agreement was signed on January 14."
Minister Matiur Rahman and Saudi Arabian Omra Affairs Minister Dr Mohammad Saleh Bin Taher Bentan were present, among others, at the agreement signing ceremony.
BSS said Biman Bangladesh Airlines, like in the previous years, will carry 50 per cent hajj pilgrims while Saudi Arabian Airlines will carry the remaining ones.
The minister, however, urged the private hajj management agencies to be more careful and responsible about the hajj pilgrims so that they can perform hajj without any hassle.