Ehsanul Haque Jasim :
Many pilgrims are facing problems for visa uncertainty. They have been stranded at Ashkona Hajj Camp in the city and eagerly waiting for clearance from the authorities.
Sources said, performing Hajj has become uncertain for around 21,000 pilgrims, as they are yet to get e-visas. The Hajj flights began on Sunday. As many pilgrims did not receive their visas, at least 838 pilgrims could not fly for Saudi Arabia on Monday.
Hajj Officer Abu Saleh Mostafa Kamal said that the pilgrims could not depart the Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport for Saudi Arabia due to visa complexities. He said that the problem of the 838 pilgrims was solved later following a meeting with Saudi Embassy in Dhaka. Some of them were scheduled to leave the airport on Tuesday night, while the rest will be sent to Saudi Arabia on Wednesday (today), said the Hajj official.
The Saudi authorities introduced e-visa system for the first time for Bangladeshi pilgrims this year, which has created the hassle. Sources said, if the matter is not addressed immediately, the Hajj pilgrimage would face a lot of problems this time. The Saudi authorities took these measures as, in the past, many who went to perform Hajj through various agencies, stayed back and failed to return.
A number of Hajj pilgrims now staying in Ashkona Hajj Camp. They went there wearing Ihram, the Hajj dress, to leave the Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport for Saudi Arabia for performing Hajj. But, they have been stranded there. Mostafa Shikder of Natore, who has been staying in the Hajj Camp, said that he is still uncertain about his departure.
Many pilgrims, especially husbands and wives or their relatives, have to fly separately due to the delay in getting visas. Some pilgrims in Ashkona Hajj Camp said that some of the pilgrims got visas, while their relatives did not get visas. As example, a woman got visa, but her husband and son did not get their visas. This is another problem from many Hajj pilgrims.
In our country, the Hajj pilgrims are generally senior citizens. So, the suffering for them is worse.
Meanwhile, many other pilgrims are facing problem to get Hajj visas due to submission of wrong size of photographs during online registration. So, the pilgrims of different Hajj agencies are yet to get their visas.
The officials of the Hajj office, however, said that they have already communicated with the Saudi’s Hajj Ministry to resolve the problem. Abu Saleh Mostafa Kamal said that they hope that the problem would be solved soon.
Abdullahil Wahid, owner of Salamat Hajj Travels and Tours, said, “At least 2,500 pilgrims of different agencies are facing the problem. We are not sure, how the problem would be solved. We have urged the Hajj office to solve the issue.”
According to the agency owners and Hajj office, the problem was created while the Bangladeshi Hajj office asked the pilgrims to register their names with a photograph of 5kb to 50kb size violating the instruction of Saudi IT firm that maintains their automation activities to register with a photograph of 5kb to 15kb size. Without prescribed size no photographs were accepted by the Saudi IT firm. As a result, the authorities denied issuing Hajj visa for the persons.
Many pilgrims are facing problems for visa uncertainty. They have been stranded at Ashkona Hajj Camp in the city and eagerly waiting for clearance from the authorities.
Sources said, performing Hajj has become uncertain for around 21,000 pilgrims, as they are yet to get e-visas. The Hajj flights began on Sunday. As many pilgrims did not receive their visas, at least 838 pilgrims could not fly for Saudi Arabia on Monday.
Hajj Officer Abu Saleh Mostafa Kamal said that the pilgrims could not depart the Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport for Saudi Arabia due to visa complexities. He said that the problem of the 838 pilgrims was solved later following a meeting with Saudi Embassy in Dhaka. Some of them were scheduled to leave the airport on Tuesday night, while the rest will be sent to Saudi Arabia on Wednesday (today), said the Hajj official.
The Saudi authorities introduced e-visa system for the first time for Bangladeshi pilgrims this year, which has created the hassle. Sources said, if the matter is not addressed immediately, the Hajj pilgrimage would face a lot of problems this time. The Saudi authorities took these measures as, in the past, many who went to perform Hajj through various agencies, stayed back and failed to return.
A number of Hajj pilgrims now staying in Ashkona Hajj Camp. They went there wearing Ihram, the Hajj dress, to leave the Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport for Saudi Arabia for performing Hajj. But, they have been stranded there. Mostafa Shikder of Natore, who has been staying in the Hajj Camp, said that he is still uncertain about his departure.
Many pilgrims, especially husbands and wives or their relatives, have to fly separately due to the delay in getting visas. Some pilgrims in Ashkona Hajj Camp said that some of the pilgrims got visas, while their relatives did not get visas. As example, a woman got visa, but her husband and son did not get their visas. This is another problem from many Hajj pilgrims.
In our country, the Hajj pilgrims are generally senior citizens. So, the suffering for them is worse.
Meanwhile, many other pilgrims are facing problem to get Hajj visas due to submission of wrong size of photographs during online registration. So, the pilgrims of different Hajj agencies are yet to get their visas.
The officials of the Hajj office, however, said that they have already communicated with the Saudi’s Hajj Ministry to resolve the problem. Abu Saleh Mostafa Kamal said that they hope that the problem would be solved soon.
Abdullahil Wahid, owner of Salamat Hajj Travels and Tours, said, “At least 2,500 pilgrims of different agencies are facing the problem. We are not sure, how the problem would be solved. We have urged the Hajj office to solve the issue.”
According to the agency owners and Hajj office, the problem was created while the Bangladeshi Hajj office asked the pilgrims to register their names with a photograph of 5kb to 50kb size violating the instruction of Saudi IT firm that maintains their automation activities to register with a photograph of 5kb to 15kb size. Without prescribed size no photographs were accepted by the Saudi IT firm. As a result, the authorities denied issuing Hajj visa for the persons.
