Staff Reporter :
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Friday officially opened this year’s Hajj program.
The PM inaugurated the program from Ganabhaban, the program was virtually held at the Hajj Camp in Ashkona in the capital.
The Prime Minister asked the Hajj pilgrims to abide by Saudi Arabia’s rules and regulations during the holy event.
The PM said the Bangladeshi pilgrims, “Pray to Allah for the country and its people when you are there in the holy land.”
She also asked all of them to uphold the country’s dignity during the Hajj as part of their moral duty.
The Prime Minister asked the pilgrims to pray for Bangladesh’s economic development, so that every person in the country can get food, clothes and shelter.
The Prime Minister also said that online registration program had been introduced by the Saudi Arabian government to ease the journey and activities of the pilgrims.
“I hope everyone can return safely to Bangladesh,” the PM said.
State Minister for Religious Affairs Md Faridul Haque Khan, State Minister for Civil Aviation and Tourism Md Mahbub Ali, among others, were present at the program.
A total of 57,856 pilgrims from Bangladesh will be allowed to take part in Hajj this year.
Off them, Biman will carry 29,000 pilgrims on three Boeing 777 aircraft this year, with 130 dedicated flights and 65 round trips.
Last year, only 58,745 pilgrims performed Hajj from across the world because of the Covid-19 pandemic.
Before the pandemic, about 2.5 million people used to travel every year to Saudi Arabia for Hajj.
