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A high-powered delegation from Saudi Arabia will arrive in Dhaka on April 10 to discuss all the pre-arrival immigration formalities for Bangladeshi hajj pilgrims.
Dhaka has proposed Riyadh to allow intending pilgrims to finish pre-arrival immigration formalities at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport, not at Jeddah airport.
"We're expecting the Saudi delegation to hit town on April 10," said deputy secretary of religious affairs ministry Md Sharafat Jaman.
"They will sit with the officials of the ministry of religious affairs to discuss pre-arrival immigration formalities and other issues," he told the FE.
Mr Jaman said the Saudi team would be led by director general of the Saudi department of immigration. They are expecting to stay here until April 13.
Issues like a rise in quota for Bangladeshis, cut in the number of pilgrims to 100 from existing 150 for each hajj agency, he added.
"All these issues will come up during the talks for hassle-free journey of the pilgrims and their stay in Mecca, Mina, Mujdalefa and other holy sites."
The official said the Saudi delegation was supposed to visit Dhaka today (Saturday), but their arrival was deferred for April 10 due to unavoidable circumstances.
Recently, state minister for religious affairs advocate Sheikh Md Abdullah visited the kingdom.
He sought Saudi permission for Bangladesh to conduct all the pre-arrival immigration formalities for hajj aspirants at Dhaka airport prior to their pilgrimage.
Earlier on March 21, a technical team from Saudi Arabia visited Bangladesh to discuss the matter.
An estimated 125,000 Bangladeshis are expected to perform the holy hajj this year.
Of the hopefuls, 6,816 will travel to Saudi Arabia under government arrangements and the rest by private hajj agencies.