No more problem for hajis in getting visa

Hajj pilgrims will not face further trouble in getting visas from Saudi Arabian embassy in Dhaka as technical difficulties in the visa procedure have been resolved, said officials at the religious affairs ministry in the capital yesterday.

Over 30,000 pilgrims' visas have already been confirmed by the Saudi embassy and the rest will be done gradually, said Abdul Malek, assistant hajj officer of the ministry.

The Hajj flights started on Sunday and over 3,000 pilgrims have already reached Saudi Arabia in the last three days, said officials at Ashkona Hajj Office where the aspiring pilgrims are now staying.

But a total of 419 pilgrims failed to fly for Saudi Arabia on Monday as the Saudi embassy did not grant their visas on time.

Hajj pilgrims blamed Bangladeshi Hajj officials for late visa confirmation.

Ibrahim Bahar, president of Hajj Agencies Association of Bangladesh (Haab), said the problem occurred due to technical difficulties especially in their photographs, and he assured that no pilgrim will miss a flight again for visa complications.

The Saudi authorities fixed a quota of 1,01,750 Bangladeshi pilgrims this year. Of them, 2,700 will perform Hajj under government arrangement and the rest under private management, said officials.

The Hajj flights will continue until September 17. The return flight will start on September 28 and end on October 28.