Visa problems delay departure of 419

A batch of 419 Bangladeshi pilgrims failed to go to Saudi Arabia yesterday by the scheduled hajj flight of Biman Bangladesh Airlines due to visa complexities.

The flight, BG-3013, of the national flag carrier was scheduled to take off from Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport for Saudi Arabia in the morning, an assistant hajj officer told the news agency.

However, the flight could not depart due to glitches in the visa issuance e-system for the pilgrims in Saudi Arabia, he said.

The hajj official also said the problem was solved in the afternoon following a meeting among the religious affairs ministry, foreign ministry and Saudi embassy in Dhaka.

"There's no problem in the e-system now. Visas are being issued online. Those who failed to get visas will receive those," he said.

The hajj official said the pilgrims who could not go to Saudi Arabia by the morning flight have been asked to get ready to travel anytime.  "They'll be sent to Saudi Arabia by any flight of Biman Bangladesh Airlines."

Meanwhile, another flight of the national flag carrier with 419 pilgrims is scheduled to leave the country at 3:35am today.