This year’s hajj registration ended leaving 7,500 of the quota unfulfilled. Religious Affairs Ministry has completed the public-private Hajj registration on Tuesday (April 11).
Even though the hajj registration is over, the quota has not been filled. Due to the increase in the cost of Hajj, the government could not fulfill the quota of pilgrims even after extending the registration time for eight terms.
On the other hand, biometric visa applications for Hajj pilgrims registered for this year’s Hajj will start simultaneously across the country from April 16 and will end on April 30. Religious Affairs Ministry has informed this in a circular issued on Wednesday.
Pilgrims who have completed their registration under the government package can apply for biometric visa at all district Islamic Foundation Offices, Islamic Foundation Agargaon, Dhaka,
Islamic Foundation BaitulMukarram Mosque Complex, Waqf Administrator’s Office, Dhaka and Hajj Office, Ashkona, Dhaka.
Pilgrims under the government management will submit their passports and receive receipts where they apply for biometric visas.
Hajj pilgrims of private management can apply for biometric visa through their own agencies and at Hajj Agencies Association of Bangladesh (HAAB) offices. After applying for Biometric Visa, pilgrims will submit their passports to respective agencies and receive receipts.
According to the decision of the Saudi government, from January 1, 2022, Bangladeshi Hajj and Umrah travelers must complete biometric registration (fingerprint and facial image) to get a Saudi visa.
For this, biometric data must be provided through the Saudi Visa Bio app. It can be downloaded from Google Play Store and Apple App Store.
Pilgrims will not get any visa for Hajj and Umrah without completing the process of registration and biometric system activation on that app from the mentioned date.
According to the last available data after several terms of extension, 10035 people have registered under government management and 109660 people have registered under private management. The holy Hajj will be held on June 28 (9 Zilhaj) subject to moon sighting.
According to the agreement with Saudi Arabia executed on January 9, a total of 127198 people from Bangladesh can participate in Hajj this year.
