Mega Maldives receive USD 4.78 mn to carry Bangladeshi pilgrims

Bangladesh newspapers have reported that Mega Maldives and Bangladesh national airlines Biman Bangladesh Airlines have signed an agreement to carry Bangladeshi hajj pilgrims.

As per the agreement, some of the Bangladeshi hajj pilgrims will be carried to Saudi Arabia by Mega Maldives. Biman made the decision as they were unable to cater to the increase in number of Bangladeshi pilgrims.

Mega Maldives has been assigned 750 hours of flight time to carry the Bangladeshi pilgrims, and will be receiving USD 6.380 (MRF 98,379) per hour. They will also be receiving USD 5,800 (MRF 89,436) per hour for extra time.

Biman has been under criticism after Mega Maldives won the bid to carry Bangladeshi pilgrims. They say that though the bid had been announced for transport between Daka and Jeddah, Biman had made the decision to employ Mega Maldives for travel to other destinations.

“Mega Maldives won the bid after suggesting the lowest rate,” reported Bangladesh media as Biman General Manager Abdul Rahman Faruky saying, adding that the company had not violated any clause in the bid document.

It has been estimated that about 100,000 Bangladeshi’s will be heading to Saudi Arabia for hajj pilgrimage in 2015.