MAKKAH: An estimated 120,000 pilgrims from Bangladesh will perform Haj this year, reported local Arabic daily Al-Madinah yesterday quoting the country’s Haj affairs consul Muhammad Assaduz-Zaman.
The announcement was made by Adnan bin Muhammad Amin Katib, chairman of the board of directors of the Tuwafa establishment of South Asian pilgrims, after a meeting in Makkah on Wednesday.
Zaman said the first group of pilgrims from his country would arrive at King Abdul Aziz International Airport on Monday, Sept. 17. “There will be another group of Bangladeshi pilgrims arriving at Prince Muhammad bin Abdul Aziz Airport in Madinah,” he added.
Zaman, who is also the adviser to the official Bangladeshi Haj mission, said of these, 10,000 pilgrims would come to the Kingdom under the sponsorship, care and service of the mission, while the others would be served by 354 tourist companies.
He said seven months ago, the mission had rented a number of buildings to accommodate the pilgrims in Makkah. “Our pilgrims will be staying in five locations along Ibrahim Al-Khaleel Road in Al-Masfalah district,” he explained.
The consul said three days before their departure the Hajis would be rigorously trained in the correct methods of Haj performance and would also receive social and cultural guidance to enlighten them on Haj instructions issued by the Saudi government.
On his part, Katib said the Bangladeshi pilgrims would be divided out among the 113 field service offices of the establishment to provide them with excellent services that would enable them to perform the fifth pillar of Islam in ease and comfort. “We are quite ready to receive the Bangladeshi pilgrims and have completed all arrangements to offer them consummate Haj services,” he added.
120,000 Bangladeshis set to perform Haj
