Bangladeshis won’t attend hajj this year

People from Bangladesh and other countries will not be able to attend Hajj this year in Saudi Arabia as the world grapples with coronavirus pandemic.

Only Saudi Arabia nationals and people of foreign countries who are living in Saudi Arabia will attend the hajj this year.

The kingdom announced on Monday that the hajj, which is taking place next month, would welcome “very limited numbers” of pilgrims to prevent the spread of the coronavirus.

In a statement published by the state-run Saudi Press Agency, the Ministry of Hajj and Umrah, which oversees the pilgrimage, said the event would allow only Saudi pilgrims and those from other countries already inside the kingdom.

The ministry did not specify the target attendance, but the limitations will surely make this year’s pilgrimage much smaller than those in recent years, which have been vast.

In 2019, 2.49 million pilgrims took part in the hajj.

Every year, Saudi Arabia plays host to millions of Muslims from around the world taking part in the pilgrimage to Mecca known as the hajj.

About one lakh and 67 thousand people from Bangladesh intended to perform hajj this year. Of which, 67 thousand have already completed registration.


Noimuddin/Mukul