Bangladesh
More than 40,000 pilgrims have not yet received their visas
own reporter
Dhaka
Published: 08 May 2024, 20:54
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The first Hajj flight is starting tomorrow Thursday morning from Dhaka.File photo
The official activities of Hajj have started this year. Hajj flights from Dhaka are starting tomorrow Thursday. However, more than 40,000 pilgrims have not yet received their visas.
However, officials of the Ministry of Religion and leaders of the Hajj agency say that pilgrims have three more days to get their visas. They hope that everyone’s visa process will be completed by this time.
According to the Ministry of Religion, 83 thousand 311 people have registered to go to Hajj this year. Among them, 4 thousand 416 people registered under government management and 78 thousand 895 people under private management. 42 thousand 846 pilgrims have received visas till Wednesday. 40 thousand 465 people have not got a visa yet.
When asked about the reason for not getting visas for a large number of Hajj pilgrims, Director of Bangladesh Hajj Office Muhammad Kamruzzaman told Prothom Alo that many Hajj agencies have not yet settled in Saudi Arabia. There is still a lot of work to be done. A visa could not be issued for this.
According to the sources of the Ministry of Religion, the Hajj pilgrims had to fall into this anxiety due to the negligence of the Hajj agencies. Agencies are neglecting to rent houses in Makkah and Madinah. Wasting time looking for cheap houses.
More than 40,000 pilgrims have not yet received their visas
However, Hajj Agencies Association of Bangladesh (HAB) president M Shahadat Hossain Taslim told Prothom Alo that there are still three days left. By this time everyone’s visa process will be completed. Pilgrims have nothing to worry about.
The deadline for applying for Hajj visas was April 29. But many of the 259 private Hajj agencies could not complete the visa process within that period. After that, the Ministry of Religion extended the time first till May 7, then till May 11.
Meanwhile, the first Hajj flight will start tomorrow morning at 7:20 am. The first flight of Biman Bangladesh Airlines carrying 419 pilgrims is scheduled to depart from Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport. On this occasion, a doa mahfil was organized in the airport area at six in the morning. However, a Saudi Airlines flight is scheduled to leave for Jeddah with pilgrims at four in the morning.
According to the Ministry of Religion, a total of seven Hajj flights will leave for Saudi Arabia on Thursday. These include three flights of Biman Bangladesh Airlines, two of Saudi Airlines and two of Flynas.
Meanwhile, the Ministry of Religion said in a notification that pilgrims have been requested to appear at the Hajj office in Ashkona at least six hours before the start of the flight. Because, it is necessary to be present six hours before the implementation of baggage, tagging, boarding, immigration and Mecca road service. The holy Hajj can be celebrated on June 16, subject to sighting of the moon.
