United News of Bangladesh

The Ministry of Religious Affairs has ordered the Hajj agencies to submit visa applications for all remaining pilgrims by 12 pm on Monday. In a letter sent to all lead and coordinating Hajj agencies on Sunday, the ministry said more than 10,000 intending hajj pilgrims have yet to receive their visas, citing an urgent message from Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Hajj and Umrah, which announced that the Nusuk Masar Platform, the portal for visa applications, will close permanently after the Monday deadline. “Visa applications not submitted through the platform by 12 noon on May 5 will not be accepted under any circumstances. Those missing the deadline will be unable to perform Hajj in 2025,” the ministry warned. Bangladeshi diaspora urged to obtain permits before performing Hajj: Religious Ministry   All the lead agencies concerned have been ordered to submit visa applications along with passport, biometric enrollment, house or hotel and flight information of the hajj pilgrims who have not yet submitted their visa applications to the Nusuk Masar platform by 12 tomorrow. The ministry also said that if any pilgrim misses the Hajj due to an agency's negligence, the responsible lead or coordinating agency will be held accountable under the Hajj and Umrah Management Act-2021 and Hajj and Umrah Rules-2022. This year’s Hajj is expected to be held on June 5, subject to the sighting of the moon. Hajj flights from Bangladesh began on April 29 and will continue until May 31. According to the ministry, 87,100 Bangladeshis are scheduled to perform Hajj this year, with 5,200 under government arrangements and 81,900 through private agencies. As of Sunday morning, a total of 22,203 pilgrims, including management staff, have reached Saudi Arabia, according to the daily bulletin published on the Hajj portal. Adviser urges pilgrims to uphold discipline, with Hajj flights set to commence Of these, 4,564 travelled under the government scheme and 17,639 under private arrangements in 54 Hajj flights operated so far. Meanwhile, two pilgrims have died in Saudi Arabia, according to the bulletin.

As the deadline to apply for Hajj visas concluded last night, uncertainty looms for over 11,000 pilgrims from Bangladesh who have yet to secure their visas. This situation makes their participation uncertain in this year’s Hajj, scheduled for June 16, contingent on moon sighting. As of today, the latest figures revealed that 72,138 individuals had successfully obtained their Saudi visas, with an additional 259 currently in the visa printing process. However, this leaves precisely 11,167 applicants in limbo, with their chances of attending the Hajj in jeopardy unless the Saudi government grants another extension. In response to the crisis, Faridul Haq Khan, Minister of Religious Affairs, has formally requested a third extension from the Saudi authorities to accommodate the backlog. Echoing this sentiment, Md A Hamid Zamadder, Secretary to the ministry, expressed optimism last night, telling UNB, “We remain in constant communication with our counterparts in the Saudi Ministry of Hajj and Umrah. We are hopeful for an extension in the visa application period.” Explore why boys lag behind girls in exams: PM Hasina says on SSC results Zamadder also noted that other countries, including India and Indonesia, are facing similar issues, which might influence Saudi Arabia to extend the visa deadline. Despite the government’s efforts, issues with local Hajj agencies have compounded the problem. These agencies have reportedly failed to secure accommodations in Saudi Arabia, a prerequisite for visa approval, leading to last-minute scrambles and heightened uncertainty. The agencies are now racing against time, trying to secure housing at lower rates, which has delayed visa processing. As of now, 11,017 Bangladeshi pilgrims have arrived in Saudi Arabia, with a total of 85,257 expected to perform Hajj under both government and private management. Visitors on Hajj visa prohibited from traveling outside Jeddah, Medina, and Mecca: Saudi Ministry The first batch of pilgrims departed on May 9, with flights scheduled to continue until June 10. Upon completion of Hajj, return flights are slated from June 20 through July 22. The coming days will be critical in determining whether the remaining applicants can fulfill their spiritual journey, as the ministry awaits a definitive response on the visa extension issue, expected by Monday.