Age-limit of pilgrims to be fixed in Nov./Dec

Staff Reporter :
The issues of fixing the age limit of the pilgrims and allocation of pilgrims’ quota for Bangladesh will be finalised during signing the Hajj agreement in November or December this year between the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA) and Bangladesh
for upcoming Hajj season of 2023.
Besides, moallem fees for the Saudi Arabian part for next year will also be finalised before signing the agreement between governments of the two countries, Shahadat Hossain Taslim, President of Hajj Agencies Association of Bangladesh (HAAB) said on Sunday.
While exchanging views with the newly elected Religious Reporters’ Forum (RRF) leaders at the HAAB office in Dhaka’s Nayapaltan, he disclosed the information.
He also informed that the HAAB is going to arrange an International Hajj and Umrah Fair, 2022 from November 17 to 19 this year at Bangabandhu International Convention Center. Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina is likely to inaugurate the fair.
In response to a query, Taslim said usually Bangladesh gets a quota of 1,27,198 pilgrims every year. The number was increased by 10,000 in 2019. The quota was not fixed for next year. It would be finalised before signing the agreement. The number can be increased or decreased. It’s upto the KSA decision.
Till to date, some 12,660 pilgrims have enrolled their names by pre-registration for performing Hajj this year under government arrangement while 2,56,682 pilgrims have pre-registered their names. The pilgrims for performing Hajj this year would be selected following the serial number, he added.
He also informed that the HAAB is going to arrange International Hajj and Umrah Fair, 2022 from November 17 to 19 this year at Bangabandhu International Convention Center. Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina is likely to inaugurate the fair.
The agencies which provide Hajj service in Saudi Arabia, the airlines, banks and financial institutions and mobile phone operators will join the fair along with the local Hajj and Umrah agencies, he informed.
RRF President Ubaidullah Badol and General Secretary Kamruzzaman Bablu led the delegation in the meeting.
Among others, HAAB Secretary General Faruk Ahmed Sarder, RRF founding president Shamsul Islam, senior journalist Anisur Rahman Khan, chief reporter of the New Nation, Mohosinul Karim Lebu, chief reporter of the Daily Observer, RRF joint secretary Chowdhury Akbor Hossain, organizing secretary Shafiqul Islam Sohag, office secretary Bahram Khan and former joint secretary Muhammad Noyeemuddin attended the meeting.