Bangladeshis allowed 4-day transit visa to Saudi Arabia for Hajj, Umrah
From now on, those travelling to Saudi Arabia with umrah visas can tour the entire country as the visa validity period has been extended to 90 days from 30 days
Bangladeshi citizens travelling through Saudi Arabia will now have the opportunity to secure a transit visa for a four-day duration, allowing them to partake in the Umrah pilgrimage.
Speaking to the media after a meeting with a visiting Saudi government delegation on Wednesday, State Minister for Religious Affairs Faridul Haque Khan also revealed that individuals embarking on a journey to Saudi Arabia for the purpose of Hajj or Umrah, accompanied by transit companions, are also permitted to extend their stay.
From now on, those travelling to Saudi Arabia with umrah visas can tour the entire country as the visa validity period has been extended to 90 days from 30 days.
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At the meeting with a 140-member team led by Saudi Hajj and Umrah Minister Tawfiq Al-Rabiah at the secretariat, the religious affairs ministry made a number of proposals for ensuring adequate facilities for Bangladeshi hajj and umrah pilgrims.
Md Faridul Haque told journalists that discussions were held on reducing pilgrimage costs for Bangladeshis, sending more pilgrims, and improving the facilities for pilgrims in Saudi Arabia. The Saudi hajj minister said his government is working earnestly to improve the facilities for Bangladeshis, particularly Bangladeshi women pilgrims.
The proposals and demands presented by the religious ministry to the Saudi delegation include reservation of two residential hotels for six months only for Bangladeshi hajj and umrah performers. Special arrangements on 10 Zilhaj at Muzdalifah for transporting ill and vulnerable pilgrims as well as their belongings to tents in Mina.
Improvements in Mina were also demanded, as load shedding last year caused sufferings for Bangladeshi pilgrims there. Proper air-conditioning facilities, increased number of tents and servicing of the tents in advance were proposed for ensuring better services.
Clear markings should be inscribed on the roads to specify the direction of the qibla for those praying outside the Masjid al-Haram. It was also recommended to keep hotels clean and lifts as well as air-conditioners properly serviced for Bangladeshi pilgrims.
Often attempts of kissing the Hajr-e-Aswad or the Black Stone lead to mass crowding and frustrations among pilgrims. The religious affairs ministry proposed formulating guidelines to make the process orderly for all pilgrims.
The ministry also asked for greater opportunities for Bangladeshi Quran memorisers to compete in Saudi competitions and for Bangladeshi students to study in Saudi universities under scholarship programmes. It also asked for land for setting up two hajj offices in Makkah and Madina cities.
At present, about 28 lakh Bangladeshi expatriates are employed in Saudi Arabia while last year, 1.22 lakh pilgrims performed hajj.
