With an aim to ensure hassle-free pilgrimage, the government is going to introduce new facilities in the hajj package this year. The package would include special pre-immigration arrangement at Dhaka, luggage handling, accommodation at hotels nearest to the holy places and other facilities, said officials.
Sources said in the Hajj package, pilgrims would be offered the opportunity to complete immigration procedures at Dhaka before boarding planes at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport (HSIA).
Moreover, this year’s package would also ensure guaranteed luggage delivery both in Mecca and Medina at hotel as well as accommodation at hotel nearest to the holy sites. The package would allow each private hajj agency to carry 100 pilgrims this year. Religious affairs minister Sheikh Abdullah told the Bangladesh Post: “From now on, more and more new facilities would be added gradually year by year to ensure that the pilgrims perform their religious pilgrimage safely and comfortably.”
“With an aim to remove the sufferings of lengthy immigration procedure at Mecca, this year, the pilgrims would complete their required immigration formalities at HSIA before boarding the plane,” he said, adding with the introduction of this new immigration procedure, pilgrims from now on would not have to wait 10-12 hours at Jeddah airport.
“Biman passengers would complete their Bangladesh portion of immigration at the hajj camp while Saudia passengers at HSIA,” the religious affairs minister recently told the media. “Then passengers of both airliners will be taken to a special exclusive zone at the airport where Saudi officials would complete the Saudi portion immigration process which earlier was conducted at Jeddah Airport,” he added.
“So, after reaching Saudi Arabia, a pilgrim would not be burdened by the anxiety of lengthy immigration process to face at Jeddah,” he further informed.
According to ministry sources, special desk for the Saudi officials are being established inside the HSIA. Equipment and automation work of these office desk is continuing round the clock.
A group of information technologist from Saudi Arabia will come and decorate the office with their own immigration desk, sources added. Citing the arrangement as a major achievement of the present government, the minister said, “Hajj is a combined team work, concerned ministries and organisations from both the countries are engaged in the activity.”
The above mention facilities, however, would be applicable only for dedicated flight passengers (the flight that only transport pilgrims). Contacted, Hajj Agencies Association of Bangladesh (HAAB) President Sahadat Hossain Taslim said, “The special arrangement is not mandatory, the facility would be offered to pilgrims who are passengers of dedicated flight.”
“To get the service, pilgrims must have to pay a certain amount. Among the total hajj pilgrims, two-third would be brought under the facility. This amount fixed as same amount will fly with dedicated flight,” he added. “Hajj agencies interested to avail the facility will have to make additional payment to confirm rented home and air ticket,” he further said.
Talking about the new immigration facility, he said, “Following a request of the religious affairs minister, Saudi Hajj and Umrah Ministry agreed to complete immigration procedures at Dhaka and reach pilgrims luggage to their respective hotels.” Hajj agency sources said under the ‘Route to Mecca Initiatives’, private agency United Agents would safely reach pilgrims’ luggage to their hotels. The agency has announced three packages and to avail the service pilgrims have to make separate agreement with the agency.
Earlier, few months ago, during a bilateral talk between Bangladesh and Saudi Arabia, the Saudi authorities agreed to introduce the facilities that would surely ensure hassle-free pilgrimage to a number of 1,27,000 persons.
