74,316 Hajj pilgrims reach Saudi Arabia: Adviser Khalid

A total of 74,316 pilgrims out of 87,100 have so far reached Saudi Arabia to perform the Holy Hajj, Religious Affairs Adviser AFM Khalid Hossain said today (29 May).

"Rest of the pilgrims are scheduled to reach Saudi Arabia by 31 May while the concerned religious affairs ministry has completed all necessary preparations to this end," the adviser said at a press briefing arranged by the ministry at Ashkona Hajj Camp adjacent to the Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport.

In past, many of the hajj pilgrims had no ability to go to Hajj due to excessive air fare, said the adviser, adding: "But this year, the air fare of each Hajj pilgrim was reduced up to Tk26,980 with the initiative of Chief Adviser Muhammad Yunus."

Additionally, the government has provided vaccines worth Tk10 crore for 87,100 Hajj pilgrims at free of cost.

The adviser also thanked all the officials of the concerned Ministry of Religious Affairs, along with the home ministry, health ministry, civil aviation and tourism ministry and Hajj Agencies Association of Bangladesh for completing all procedures of Hajj successfully this year.

He specially thanked the chief adviser for taking the Hajj programme ahead by giving important directives amid sincerity. 

The government is actively exploring the possibility of transporting Hajj pilgrims to Saudi Arabia via a large ship next time with the aim of making the pilgrimage more cost-effective, he said, adding, "To facilitate this, the government is engaging with the Shipping Ministry and ship manufacturing companies to make the necessary arrangements." 

Of the Bangladeshi Hajj pilgrims, 12 have so far died after reaching Saudi Arabia due to old age or different health-related complications in the past several days and seriously ill 37 more are being admitted in the hospital.

The age of those who died in Saudi Arabia is over 60. That's why the government encourages the younger pilgrims who are between 45-50 years to perform Hajj next time.

Khalid Hossain said three clinics have been set up at Makkah, Madina and Mina where a total of 164 Bangladeshi doctors, Nurses and technicians are providing healthcare services to the Bangladeshi Hajj pilgrims.

Moreover, if anyone becomes critically ill then an arrangement is being taken to admit them to the hospital in Saudi Arabia, he added. 

In addition, the government is distributing medicines worth Tk 1 crore for the Hajj pilgrims this year at free of cost.

The religious affairs adviser is going to Saudi Arabia on a Hajj flight today to inquire about the whereabouts of the Hajj pilgrims directly at Makkah and Madina tomorrow.

During the press briefing, senior officials of the ministry including Religious Affairs Secretary AKM Aftab Hossain Pramanik and Hajj Officer Lokman Hossain attended, among others.