Staff Reporter :
The Biman Bangladesh Airlines has cancelled two more scheduled Hajj flights for shortage of pilgrims for visa complications.
Hajj Agencies Association of Bangladesh (HAAB) sources said the Saudi government did not accept the e-visa application from the hajj agencies for those of the hajj pilgrims, who performed hajj once in 2015 or 2016, unless payment of extra amount of 2,000 Saudi Riyal per head. As a result, some 15,000-20,000 hajj pilgrims would not be able to perform hajj this year due to complexities in e-visa process.
With these, a total of 12 hajj flights have been cancelled since the first day of hajj flight operation on July 24.
Civil Aviation and Tourism Minister Rashed Khan Menon said that the Biman flights were cancelled as several thousands of pilgrim failed to get visa in time.
Shakil Meraj, General Manager Public Relations (GMPR) of Biman Bangladesh Airlines said that two more flights scheduled to fly at 2:55 pm on Tuesday and at 3:25 am on Wednesday were cancelled.
A total of 177 flights will carry the Hajj pilgrims till August 26. But 29 dedicated flights and 8 scheduled flights only took off for Saudi Arabia so far.
Some 127,198 pilgrims are to perform Hajj from Bangladesh this year under government and private managements. the Religious Affairs Ministry sources said the visas of 42,000 hajj pilgrims had already been processed and over 20,000 people left for Saudi Arabia for performing hajj this year till Sunday.
The Biman Bangladesh Airlines has cancelled two more scheduled Hajj flights for shortage of pilgrims for visa complications.
Hajj Agencies Association of Bangladesh (HAAB) sources said the Saudi government did not accept the e-visa application from the hajj agencies for those of the hajj pilgrims, who performed hajj once in 2015 or 2016, unless payment of extra amount of 2,000 Saudi Riyal per head. As a result, some 15,000-20,000 hajj pilgrims would not be able to perform hajj this year due to complexities in e-visa process.
With these, a total of 12 hajj flights have been cancelled since the first day of hajj flight operation on July 24.
Civil Aviation and Tourism Minister Rashed Khan Menon said that the Biman flights were cancelled as several thousands of pilgrim failed to get visa in time.
Shakil Meraj, General Manager Public Relations (GMPR) of Biman Bangladesh Airlines said that two more flights scheduled to fly at 2:55 pm on Tuesday and at 3:25 am on Wednesday were cancelled.
A total of 177 flights will carry the Hajj pilgrims till August 26. But 29 dedicated flights and 8 scheduled flights only took off for Saudi Arabia so far.
Some 127,198 pilgrims are to perform Hajj from Bangladesh this year under government and private managements. the Religious Affairs Ministry sources said the visas of 42,000 hajj pilgrims had already been processed and over 20,000 people left for Saudi Arabia for performing hajj this year till Sunday.
