The arrangement will help smooth hajj flight operation as most of the hajj pilgrims are to be carried by leasing aircraft, sources at the civil aviation and tourism ministry yesterday said.

Meanwhile, civil aviation and tourism ministry has expressed concerns after recent termination of the Biman's hajj flight agreement with Bangkok-based airline Phuket Air.

"An inter-ministerial meeting held today at the civil aviation ministry formed a five-member committee to make the draft agreement," acting secretary to the civil aviation ministry Sheikh Altaf Ali told The Daily Star at his secretariat office after emerging from the meeting yesterday.

Saudi Airlines is entitled to carry 50 per cent of the hajj pilgrims but they never did that, he said.

"We don't have any agreement with Saudi Arabia that several countries have for carrying half the hajj passengers. The agreement will ease carrying the hajis," Altaf Ali said.

"With the present flight capacity Biman will be able to carry about 5,000 hajis and the rest will have to be carried by leasing aircraft," the acting civil aviation secretary said.

"Every year we face hassle and anxiety to carry hajj pilgrims as Saudi Airlines does not carry expected number of hajj passengers from Bangladesh. But they get royalty from us," a Biman high official yesterday said wishing anonymity.

"Carrying half of the hajis by Saudi Airlines would make the task of transporting the hajis easier for Biman. Otherwise, it will be difficult to manage carrying the big number of hajis to and from Saudi Arabia," he said.

Civil aviation sources said about 50,000 Bangladeshi are expected to perform the hajj this year.

The five-member committee headed by Fakhrul Islam, joint secretary to the civil aviation ministry, will submit their draft agreement by August 30.

After vetting from the law ministry, Bangladesh and Saudi Arabian authorities will sign the agreement.

Tender will be opened on August 16

Tender to operate hajj flight will be opened on August 16, a Biman high official said yesterday.

After cancellation of the agreement with the Phuket Air to operate hajj flight, Biman Bangladesh Airlines Ltd floated fresh tender.

Expressing concern over termination of the agreement, the civil aviation secretary said, "We have asked the Biman authorities to see that no unwanted situation is created to carry hajj pilgrims."