National
6 years ago

397 Bangladeshis miss Hajj this year

Published :

Updated :

For 397 Bangladeshis, it will be the longest one year of the wait to perform Hajj next year as they have failed to avail the opportunity this year for complications relating to visa, tickets or similar issues.


However, the authorities said, almost all the rest of the Bangladeshi pilgrims willing to perform Hajj this year have gotten the opportunity to travel to Mecca, Saudi Arabia.


Civil Aviation and Tourism Minister Rashed Khan Menon briefed the media about the Bangladeshi pilgrims on Monday.


According to him, 127,103 Bangladeshis are performing Hajj this year.


"The number was supposed to be 127,500. But 397 passengers cannot travel for visa, ticket and other issues," he said.


The minister said the last Hajj flight of Biman Bangladesh Airlines left Dhaka Sunday night.


There were two flights of Saudi Arabian Airlines at 5pm and 8pm on Monday.


"If any of the stranded passengers manage to solve their problems by that time, they can take these flights," Menon said.


Biman carried 64,873 Hajj pilgrims while Saudi Arabian Airlines 62,230.


The national flag carrier of Bangladesh cancelled 24 flights while Saudi Arabian Airlines four for visa complications, and delay in payments for Muallims and house rents.


The minister blamed the Hajj travel agencies for the problems.


"We had to use RAB to make the Hajj agencies pay," he said.


He also said the Hajj agencies responsible for the issues would lose their licence, according to bdnews24.com.

Share this news