 |
DHAKA: Bangladesh and Saudi Arabia will sign an agreement on Hajj pilgrims in January in Jeddah of Saudia Arabia.
The religious affairs ministry sources said that after signing of the bilateral agreement, the Hajj package 2018 will be announced by the government.
The sources said that the agreement will be signed any day from January 10 to January 15.
A team, led by religious affairs minister Principal Matior Rahman, will visit Saudi Arabia in that time to sign the agreement.
Bangladesh will propose to increase the Hajj quota for 2018 during the signing of the agreement on Hajj pilgrims. Bangladesh hopes that 1, 30,000 pilgrims will be allowed from Bangladesh in 2018.
A total of 127,158 pilgrims will be able to perform Hajj as per the existing agreement. If the Saudi authorities increase the quota, the number of Hajj pilgrims will be 1, 30,000.
Meanwhile, the pre-registration of Hajj pilgrims for 2018 under private management in accordance with their quota has already been completed, though the last date for this is December 31.
An official of the religious affairs ministry said that many Bangladeshis register their names to perform Hajj every year. But many fail to go to Saudi Arabia due to quota shortage. The government is trying to increase the quota, he said.
A total of 10,000 pilgrims will perform Hajj under government management and 1, 17,158 under private arrangement, as per the existing Hajj agreement.
BDST: 1456 HRS, DEC 05, 2017
EHJ