Saudi Arabia threatens to 'red list' Bangladesh’s hajj office
Saudi Arabia has threatened to put Bangladesh's hajj office in the Kingdom on the "red list" if it fails to complete the visa processing of at least 80 percent of the pilgrims by today.
The warning comes as the Ministry of Hajj and Umrah of Saudi Arabia on June 5 informed its decision to the Bangladesh Hajj Office in Jeddah. The ministry also said the Bangladesh Hajj Office will be responsible for any consequences if the targets are not met.
Councilor, Bangladesh Hajj Office, Saudi Arabia, Jahirul Islam informed the Kingdom's warning to the Religious Affairs Ministry, urging the ministry to take immediate measures in this regard.
In the letter, the International Cooperation Department of the Ministry of Hajj and Umrah of Saudi Arabia said. "We are expressing our gratitude to the hajj office of those countries who have completed their activities as per the agreement with Saudi Arabia regarding issuance of visa of hajj pilgrims."
"But hajj offices of some countries were put on the red list. Therefore, serious complexities have occurred in implementing and completing various activities. But the respective hajj offices will have to bear the entire responsibilities," reads the letter signed by Al-Hasan Al-Manakherah, representative of International Cooperation Department of the Ministry of Hajj and Umrah of Saudi Arabia.
"We want to complete 80 percent work of issuance of visas to pilgrims by June 7 (Wednesday). In case of failure, the Ministry of Hajj and Umrah of Saudi Arabia will be forced to take any kind of actions," the letter also warned.
The Bangladesh Religious Affairs Ministry on June 6 in a notice informed all 603 private hajj agencies about the letter and instructed them to take necessary measures to comply with the Saudi hajj ministry's decision.
"Hajj agencies who have not got visas up to the desired level were requested to take immediate measures on an emergency basis to complete the visa process by today (Wednesday)," the ministry said in the notice.
A top official of the religious affairs ministry said, as of June 6, 94,800 hajj pilgrims have so far got visas. The visa rate is 78 percent.
Therefore, Bangladesh is in danger of being red-listed by Saudi Arabia.
Director of Hajj office at city's Ashkona Hajj Camp, Saiful Islam said, "Saudi Arabia issues hajj visas to pilgrims. We are trying to implement their instructions."
Sources at the religious affairs ministry said the government high-ups are not pleased with the hajj mismanagement activities of this year.
For this reason, the secretary of the religious affairs ministry was transferred on Sunday night.
The new secretary Md A Hamid Zamadder joined the ministry on Tuesday.
A total of 1 lakh 22 thousand 558 people from Bangladesh will participate in Hajj this year.
As of Tuesday, 59,655 pilgrims have reached Saudi Arabia from Bangladesh.
Hajj flights from Bangladesh started on May 21. The flight will continue till June 22.
Hajj will be held on June 27 subject to moon sighting.