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.

The Ministry of Religious Affairs is providing interest-free microloans and financial assistance to imams and muezzins across the country from Imam-Muezzin Welfare Trust. These loans and financial aid are being offered to those who have received training at the Imam Training Academy of the Islamic Foundation, Ministry of Religious Affairs said in a press release on Monday. Umrah air ticket syndicate disbanded, says Adviser Khalid For the current fiscal year 2024-25, a total of Tk 1.8 crore has been distributed among 600 imams and muezzins as interest-free loans. Besides, Tk 2.31 crore  has been allocated as financial assistance for 4,620 imams and muezzins nationwide. Of this, Tk 14.75 lakh has already been distributed among 295 people in Dhaka district and the distribution of the remaining funds currently underway, read the release. A total of Tk 4.11 crore is being distributed in the current fiscal year for these two welfare initiatives. Contracts with Hajj service providers must be ended by Feb 14: Adviser Khalid Established in 2001, the Imam-Muezzin Welfare Trust aims to support imams and muezzins who face financial difficulties due to accidents, disabilities, or serious illness, as well as provide assistance to the families of deceased imams and muezzins. The trust also offers financial aid for the education of the children of imams and muezzins.

The government has directed the banks concerned to pay deposits of Hajj pilgrims and ordered them not to invest the money deposited by them A circular from the Hajj-1 section under the Ministry of Religious Affairs was issued in this regard on Tuesday, said a media release sent from the ministry. The banks concerned have been directed not to create any hassle in withdrawing money deposited for performing the 2025 Hajj by the aspirants or deposited money under any scheme, it reads. It also said that the expenses of the Saudi phase of the Hajj pilgrims and the money for air tickets are still being deposited in the bank accounts of the approved Hajj agencies of the Ministry of Religious Affairs for the Hajj activities. About 50 percent of the money deposited in these accounts will have to be sent to Saudi Arabia in the last week of December. That is why it has been requested not to invest the deposited money elsewhere. DU VC meets chief adviser, discusses university affairs Moreover, the hajj pilgrims have to deposit the necessary money for the Saudi phase of the Hajj pilgrims in the account titled 'agency pilgrims fund payable to KSA' of Sonali Bank, Ramna corporate branch in the light of the instructions of this ministry.    

Nominees of potential pilgrims registered by the government who already deposited their hajj funds but are unable to attend this year due to death, illness, or age limit will be allowed to withdraw their deposited money. The Ministry of Religious Affairs Wednesday issued a notice regarding the withdrawal of the deposit in case of death, illness, or expiry of the age limit of the depositors. The nominees will be able to withdraw the deposited money by applying to the registration refund system by logging onto www.hajj.gov.bd, it said. Performing hajj is one of the five pillars of Islam and able-bodied Muslims are obliged to perform it at least once in their lifetime if they can afford it. The five-day hajj pilgrimage takes place from the eighth to the 12th of Dhul Hijjah, the final month of the Islamic lunar calendar. In 2022, hajj will be observed from July 7-12. Also read: HAAB announces private Hajj package for 2022, Minimum cost fixed at 4,63,000

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina will inaugurate 50 model mosques across the country on the occasion of 'Mujib Year' on Thursday. These are part of a project which would ultimately set up 560 mosques all over Bangladesh in the coming days. This was stated at a press briefing of the Ministry of Religious Affairs at the Osmani Memorial Auditorium in the capital. Also read: Model mosques: A unique Mujib Borsho gift Md Faridul Haque Khan, state minister for religious affairs was present at the briefing. Sheikh Hasina will formally inaugurate the mosques at 10:30am through videoconferencing from her official residence, according to the briefing.

The government has made coronavirus vaccination mandatory for people willing to perform Hajj later this year.

Muslims in Bangladesh will observe the Shab-e-Barat on the night of March 29 as the Shaban moon was not sighted in the country on Sunday.

The pre-registration of intending pilgrims for performing the next year’s Hajj will be continued till the end of the year.

The government on Sunday urged Muslim devotees to offer Eid prayer in the nearest mosques instead of Eidgah and open spaces maintaining recommended health advice amid coronavirus pandemic.

The pilgrims who paid for the registration of Hajj this year will be able to take back their money if necessary, said the Ministry of Religious Affairs on Tuesday.