Bangladeshi pilgrims to the Hajj will now have the option of traveling by water because a proposal from their country was accepted by the Saudi authorities.

According to a news release from the Ministry of Religious Affairs, the Saudi government granted the approval during a bilateral meeting on Sunday in Jeddah between Saudi Minister of Hajj and Umrah Dr. Tawfiq Fawzan Al-Rabiah and Religious Affairs Advisor Dr. KM Khalid Hossain.

According to the press release, Khalid Hossain submitted the proposal to the Saudi ministry responsible for the Hajj and Umrah during the meeting, and the Saudi ministry acknowledged that the Bangladeshi plan had been approved.

According to Dr. Tawfiq Fawzan Al Rabiah, the Saudi authorities has no problem welcoming Bangladeshi pilgrims who are traveling by water for the Hajj.

Saudi officials emphasized that the Bangladeshi government must communicate with shipping companies to finalize the decision and that talks with port authorities are necessary.

This year, the government of Bangladesh is thinking of sending 2000–3000 pilgrims via sea on an experimental basis.

The consultant was guaranteed by the Saudi minister that the pilgrims’ biometric system will be upgraded.
Additionally, he gave the religious affairs adviser his word that Hajj agency owners or their agents would receive Munazzim (multiple entrance) visas.

In addition, the Saudi minister promised the adviser on religious issues that appropriate action would be taken in regards to the misplaced bags of Bangladeshi pilgrims traveling under the ‘Route to Makkah’ program in 2023 and 2024.

The Hajj and Umrah Ministry of Saudi Arabia has established a minimum limit of 2000 pilgrims per agency for this year.

Deputy Minister for International Cooperation Dr. Hasan Al-Manakhera and Director General of the Hajj and Umrah Ministry Badr Al-Selami assisted the Saudi Minister of Hajj and Umrah in the meeting.

Meeting attendees included Hajj Counselor Zahirul Islam, Hajj Consul Muhammad Aslam Uddin, Consul General Miah Mohammad Mainul Kabir of the Bangladesh Consulate in Jeddah, Brigadier Rakibullah, Charge d’Affaires at the Bangladesh Embassy in Riyadh, Hajj Counselor AH Hamid Jamaddar of Bangladesh, and Additional Secretary of the Hajj Division Md. Matiul Islam.