The Saudi government has celebrated a proposal to send Bangladeshi Hajj pilgrims via the sea route, marking a critical shift in how pilgrims would possibly well possibly inch to the kingdom.
This announcement got here following a bilateral assembly held on Sunday (6 October) on the Hajj and Umrah Ministry in Jeddah.
Bangladesh’s Non secular Affairs Adviser Dr AFM Khalid Hossain met with Saudi Minister of Hajj and Umrah Dr Tawfiq Fawzan Al-Rabiah, who confirmed the Saudi government’s enhance for the initiative, in accordance to a statement from Bangladesh’s Ministry of Non secular Affairs issued this day (7 October).
While affirming there were no objections to the sea route, Dr Al-Rabiah emphasised the want for additional discussions with Saudi port authorities to finalise logistical preparations.
He also smartly-known that Bangladesh would must have interaction with shipping firms to originate the indispensable inch provisions.
The Bangladesh government is at this time racy about sending a trial group of two,000 to a couple,000 Hajj pilgrims via ship in 2024, as fragment of efforts to accommodate the rising option of pilgrims.
Along with to to supporting the sea route, Dr Al-Rabiah assured Dr Hossain that Saudi Arabia would pork up biometric techniques to toughen the efficiency and abilities of Hajj pilgrims.
He also promised to subject multiple-entry visas for the house owners and representatives of Hajj companies to facilitate smoother operations.
Addressing issues raised about lost baggage incidents affecting Bangladeshi pilgrims under the Route to Makkah programme in 2023 and 2024, the Saudi minister pledged to put in power measures to prevent same issues within the long inch.
Key officials point out on the assembly included Moulana Abdul Hamid Jamaddar, secretary of Non secular Affairs, alongside with representatives from the Bangladesh Embassy in Riyadh and the Bangladesh Consulate in Jeddah.
The assembly highlighted the continuing collaboration between the two worldwide locations to pork up and streamline the Hajj pilgrimage process.
