Saudi increases quota for Bangladeshi hajj pilgrims

A total of 137,000 Bangladeshis will perform hajj next year as an agreement was signed with Saudi Arabia in this regard on Wednesday, reports UNB.

The agreement was signed at hajj and umrah ministry of Saudi Arabia in Saudi Arabia where Saudi hajj and umrah minister Saleh bin Taher Benten and state minister for religious affairs Sheikh Mohammad Abdullah were present.

"The Saudi government has increased the quota for Bangladeshi hajj pilgrims by 10,000 in 2020. With this, a total of 137,000 people from Bangladesh will get the opportunity to perform hajj next year," state minister Abdullah said after the deal signing ceremony.

According to the agreement, all Bangladeshi pilgrims will complete their immigration process in Dhaka thanks to the Makkah Route Initiative.

As per the deal, the number of flights to Medina will be increased next year to mitigate hassle of the pilgrims, Biman Bangladesh Airlines and Saudi Airlines will carry the pilgrims equally to Saudi and pilgrims will be provided with better accommodation in Mina.

The Bangladesh delegation also includes religious affairs secretary Md Anisur Rahman, Bangladesh's ambassador to Saudi Golam Moshi, civil aviation and tourism secretary Mizanur Rahman and additional religious affairs secretary ABM Aminullah Nuri.