Bangladesh Proposes Sea Route For Hajj Pilgrims, Saudi Arabia Agrees

Bangladesh has proposed sending Hajj pilgrims via sea route, which has been agreed upon by the Saudi government.

On Sunday, October 6, during a bilateral meeting in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, Bangladesh's Religious Affairs Adviser, A.F.M. Khalid Hossain, was informed by Saudi Minister of Hajj and Umrah, Tawfiq Al-Rabiah, of this agreement.

On Monday, October 7, the Ministry of Religious Affairs issued a statement regarding this development.

In response to the adviser's proposal, the Saudi Minister stated that there are no objections from the Saudi government to sending Hajj pilgrims by sea from Bangladesh. However, discussions with the port authorities will be necessary. The Bangladesh government will also need to negotiate with shipping companies to make a final decision.

The Ministry of Religious Affairs indicated that this year, they are considering sending two to three thousand Hajj pilgrims by sea on an experimental basis.

The Saudi Ministry of Hajj and Umrah allocates a minimum quota of two thousand pilgrims per agency. In this regard, the religious adviser requested a reassessment to set the quota at 250 pilgrims per agency for 2024, to which the Saudi Minister assured consideration.

Assisting the Saudi Minister during the bilateral meeting were the Deputy Minister for International Cooperation at the Ministry of Hajj, Dr. Hassan Al-Manakhra, and the Director General of the Hajj and Umrah Ministry, Badr Al-Salami.

Present at the meeting were Religious Secretary Md. A. Hamid Jamaddar, Additional Secretary of the Hajj Division Md. Matiul Islam, Charge d'Affaires of the Bangladesh Embassy in Riyadh Brigadier Rakibullah, Consul General of the Bangladesh Consulate in Jeddah Mia Muhammad Moinul Kabir, Counsellor of the Hajj Mission in Jeddah Zahirul Islam, and Hajj Consul Muhammad Aslam Uddin.