All hajj pilgrims to be sent within 8 days

Muhammad Naymuddin: The government is trying its best to resolve the crisis of visa complexities and shortage of hajj pilgrims.

Hajj offices of Religion Ministry, Saudi embassy, Civil Aviation Authority of Bangladesh ( Caab) and Hajj Agencies Association of Bangladesh (HAAB) are jointly assisting to end the crisis.

Md Saiful Islam, Director of Ashokona Hajj office, said there are now no visa complexities. At least 1,24,485 visas were prepared completely till today (Saturday). The rest of the visas will be prepared within Sunday.

However, the shortage of hajj pilgrims has not ended completely.  Nearly 46 thousand hajj pilgrims could not fly for Saudi Arabia due to suspension of flights for the shortage.

According to hajj office, the final hajj flight is scheduled to take off on August 28. A total of 80,494 hajj pilgrims left Dhaka for Saudi Arabia till the report was filed on Friday. Now 46,702 pilgrims are intending to fly. Some will also fly within the evening.   So, the rest of hajj pilgrims will be sent within the next eight days.

However, hajj agencies are concerned over traveling of the stranded pilgrims. They blamed visa complexities and Biman Bangladesh Airlines for the crisis.


risingbd/Dhaka/August 19, 2017/Naymuddin/A K Azad