Bangladeshis’ Umrah now uncertain

Umrah for around 10,000 Bangladeshis, who already got visas, has become uncertain as the Saudi government yesterday placed a temporary ban on Umrah pilgrimage to stop the spread of coronavirus in the Kingdom.

However, Bangladeshis who have obtained work permits and employment visas can fly to the Middle-Eastern country on their scheduled flights, Biman Bangladesh Airlines said in a press release yesterday. 

Saudi Arabia announced the ban after more than 330 cases were confirmed around the Middle East, said a UK-based newspaper. 

Sources at Dhaka, Chattogram, and Sylhet international airports said no airlines yesterday carried passengers with Umrah or tourist visas to Saudi Arabia from the airports.  

The authorities of those airlines said they got the directive, issued by the Saudi foreign ministry in the morning, not to carry passengers with Umrah or tourist visas. 

"After receiving the directive, we are communicating with our passengers. We have requested them to wait until further notice," said an official of Saudia Airlines.   

Some airlines even asked passengers to disembark the Saudi-bound aircraft at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport, officials said.  

Around 500 passengers yesterday faced hardships as they had to wait for several hours at the airport following the Saudi government's sudden decision.  

Hajj Agencies Association of Bangladesh (Haab) President Shahadat Hossain Taslim said around 1,000 Bangladeshis were stranded at the three airports in Dhaka, Chattogram, and Sylhet.  

He added that around 10,000 people had obtained Umrah visas so far, and half of them had already bought tickets and made accommodation arrangements in Saudi Arabia. 

The Haab president said about Tk 40 to 50 crore was spent on visas, tickets and accommodation.  

He said, "Umrah visas are usually granted for 15 days. Hotel bookings are required to get the visa. We are not sure when this suspension will be lifted."  

"I'm not sure whether I will get back the money I have spent so far for ticket and accommodation to perform Umrah," Hafizur Rahman told this correspondent at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport. 

Nearly seven million Umrah pilgrims visit the Kingdom each year. The majority of them arrive at airports in Jeddah and Madinah. 

23 BANGLADESHIS EVACUATED  

Meanwhile, an Indian Air Force aircraft yesterday carried 112 people, including 23 Bangladeshis, from coronavirus-hit Chinese city of Wuhan and sent them to a 14-day quarantine facility in South Delhi, reports our New Delhi correspondent. 

The C-17 Globemaster III transport aircraft, which was sent to Wuhan on Wednesday with 15 tonnes of medical supplies for coronavirus-affected people in China, returned to Delhi in the morning. 

On its return flight, the aircraft carried 23 Bangladeshis, 76 Indians, six Chinese, two each from Myanmar and the Maldives, and one each from South Africa, the US and Madagascar. 

Three Indian mission officials coordinated the evacuation in Wuhan, the epicentre of the coronavirus outbreak. 

In a statement, Indian External Affairs Ministry said nationals "from some of our neighbouring countries had sought assistance in travelling to India ..."  

Those returning from Wuhan underwent thermal screening at the Indira Gandhi International Airport and they were later taken to a quarantine facility of Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) in Chhawla camp in South Delhi, where they will be kept for a fortnight, officials said. 

An ITBP spokesperson said a team of doctors, paramedics, and others would be deployed at the quarantine facility round the clock and the quarantined passengers would be provided with facilities like food, beds, and indoor entertainment.