Staff Reporter :
Religious Affairs Secretary Abdul Jalil on Sunday said the that Hajj pilgrims who failed to go to Saudi Arabia due to visa complications would be able to fly in the next 21 days.
Additional flights would be arranged for those of the pilgrims who had missed flights, he added.
Regarding the extra charge of 2000 Riyals equivalent to BD Tk 44,000 for those of the pilgrims who had performed Hajj in 2015 or 2016, Jalil said that the Saudi government has imposed the extra charge for all countries across the globe, adding, “They are trying to settle the issue”.
According to Hajj Councilor of Saudi Arabia, a total of 41,154 Bangladeshi pilgrims reached Saudi Arabia till Sunday morning, he said.
Due to different reasons in the last 15 days, a total of 19 Hajj flights including Bangladesh Biman and Saudi Airlines were cancelled and about 6,500 Hajj pilgrims missed their regular flights to Saudi Arabia, according to insiders.
By this time, the embassy of Saudi Arabia has asked the Ministry of Religious Affairs to confirm visas for Hajj pilgrims within August 17.
From Saturday, the Hajj flights are becoming normal and taking Hajj pilgrims to Jeddah for performing the holy ritual though a number of flights were cancelled in a row, said Saiful Islam, Director of the government Hajj office at Ashkona in Dhaka.
“We hope that no more Hajj flights will be canceled for any complexity whatever. The Hajj pilgrims will reach Mecca in time,” Saiful Islam opined.
For the cancellation of the scheduled Hajj flights, General Secretary of Hajj Agencies Association of Bangladesh (HAAB) Sahdat Taslim has attributed to e-visa printing for Hajj pilgrims, two thousand extra Saudi Riyal fees for those of the Hajj pilgrims who performed once, additional Muallim fees and house rents complexities.
“Hajj pilgrims were contracted about the increased amount, but they were reluctant to pay additional money increased by the Saudi embassy suddenly,” Sahdat Taslim mentioned.
“We are keen to solve all such issues and have instructed our 1097 agencies to render the Hajj pilgrims adequate service. Agencies are applying for visa regularly and helping Hajj pilgrims fly according to schedules,” he added.
The General Manager of Public Relations of Biman Bangladesh Sakil Meraj told the New Nation that they had applied for additional operational slots for Biman for carrying the Hajj pilgrims who could not go yet.
“We have started to carry the Hajj Pilgrims in the regular flights of Biman to meet the deadline; if no sudden problem arises Biman will fly the Hajj pilgrims to Jeddah in time,” Meraj added.
A total of 1,271,987 pilgrims from Bangladesh are expected to perform this year’s Hajj.
Among 4200, about 3500 pilgrims under government management already received their visas from the Saudi embassy in Dhaka and 3340 pilgrims reached Jeddah by different flights of Biman and Saudi Airlines.
Until to date, 70,000 people have received Saudi visas, according to Hajj Office at Askona in the capital.
The last flight for Hajj pilgrims, who are going to Saudi Arabia under government arrangement, is August 25. The last flight for Hajj pilgrims who are going under private arrangement is August 26.
According to the Hajj Officials, four flights of Biman Bangladesh Airlines with Hajj pilgrims were supposed to leave the country for Saudi Arabia on Sunday. Until around 5:00 pm on the day, two flights left the country.
Religious Affairs Secretary Abdul Jalil on Sunday said the that Hajj pilgrims who failed to go to Saudi Arabia due to visa complications would be able to fly in the next 21 days.
Additional flights would be arranged for those of the pilgrims who had missed flights, he added.
Regarding the extra charge of 2000 Riyals equivalent to BD Tk 44,000 for those of the pilgrims who had performed Hajj in 2015 or 2016, Jalil said that the Saudi government has imposed the extra charge for all countries across the globe, adding, “They are trying to settle the issue”.
According to Hajj Councilor of Saudi Arabia, a total of 41,154 Bangladeshi pilgrims reached Saudi Arabia till Sunday morning, he said.
Due to different reasons in the last 15 days, a total of 19 Hajj flights including Bangladesh Biman and Saudi Airlines were cancelled and about 6,500 Hajj pilgrims missed their regular flights to Saudi Arabia, according to insiders.
By this time, the embassy of Saudi Arabia has asked the Ministry of Religious Affairs to confirm visas for Hajj pilgrims within August 17.
From Saturday, the Hajj flights are becoming normal and taking Hajj pilgrims to Jeddah for performing the holy ritual though a number of flights were cancelled in a row, said Saiful Islam, Director of the government Hajj office at Ashkona in Dhaka.
“We hope that no more Hajj flights will be canceled for any complexity whatever. The Hajj pilgrims will reach Mecca in time,” Saiful Islam opined.
For the cancellation of the scheduled Hajj flights, General Secretary of Hajj Agencies Association of Bangladesh (HAAB) Sahdat Taslim has attributed to e-visa printing for Hajj pilgrims, two thousand extra Saudi Riyal fees for those of the Hajj pilgrims who performed once, additional Muallim fees and house rents complexities.
“Hajj pilgrims were contracted about the increased amount, but they were reluctant to pay additional money increased by the Saudi embassy suddenly,” Sahdat Taslim mentioned.
“We are keen to solve all such issues and have instructed our 1097 agencies to render the Hajj pilgrims adequate service. Agencies are applying for visa regularly and helping Hajj pilgrims fly according to schedules,” he added.
The General Manager of Public Relations of Biman Bangladesh Sakil Meraj told the New Nation that they had applied for additional operational slots for Biman for carrying the Hajj pilgrims who could not go yet.
“We have started to carry the Hajj Pilgrims in the regular flights of Biman to meet the deadline; if no sudden problem arises Biman will fly the Hajj pilgrims to Jeddah in time,” Meraj added.
A total of 1,271,987 pilgrims from Bangladesh are expected to perform this year’s Hajj.
Among 4200, about 3500 pilgrims under government management already received their visas from the Saudi embassy in Dhaka and 3340 pilgrims reached Jeddah by different flights of Biman and Saudi Airlines.
Until to date, 70,000 people have received Saudi visas, according to Hajj Office at Askona in the capital.
The last flight for Hajj pilgrims, who are going to Saudi Arabia under government arrangement, is August 25. The last flight for Hajj pilgrims who are going under private arrangement is August 26.
According to the Hajj Officials, four flights of Biman Bangladesh Airlines with Hajj pilgrims were supposed to leave the country for Saudi Arabia on Sunday. Until around 5:00 pm on the day, two flights left the country.
