United News of Bangladesh

Bangladesh and Saudi Arabia on Tuesday (11th November 2025) signed the Hajj agreement for 2026, under which 78,500 Bangladeshi pilgrims will be able to perform the pilgrimage next year. Dr AFM Khalid Hossain, religious affairs adviser, and Dr Tawfiq bin Fawzan Al Rabiah, Saudi Minister of Hajj and Umrah, inked the deal on behalf of their respective countries. Both sides discussed the overall management of the Hajj pilgrimage during the signing ceremony. Adviser Khalid briefed the Saudi minister on Bangladesh’s recent progress in Hajj management and requested enhanced facilities for Bangladeshi pilgrims, including improved tent arrangements, water supply, and sanitation services in Mina, Arafat and Muzdalifah, said a media release issued by the ministry on Tuesday night. KSA bars pilgrims with incurable diseases from performing Hajj: Ministry Lauding Bangladesh’s Hajj management system, Tawfiq assured that Saudi authorities would continue to provide the highest level of services to Bangladeshi pilgrims. During the meeting, the adviser also invited the Saudi Minister to visit Bangladesh while he accepted the invitation. Religious Affairs Secretary Md Kamal Uddin, Bangladesh Ambassador to Saudi Arabia Delwar Hossain, Saudi Deputy Minister of Hajj and Umrah Dr Hassan Manakhara, Saudi Ambassador to Bangladesh Dr Abdullah bin Jafar H. bin Abyah, and senior officials from both countries, among others were present at the signing ceremony. Hajj agency’s license cancelled for failing to send pilgrims to Hajj

At least 23 Bangladeshi pilgrims have died in Saudi Arabia as of June 11 while performing Hajj this year. Among the deceased, 21 were men and two women, said a report from the daily bulletin of Hajj Management Portal ‘Hajj-2025’ under the Religious Affairs Ministry on Thursday. Fifteen of the deceased died in Makkah, seven in Madinah and one in Arafat. Currently, 23 Bangladeshi pilgrims are receiving treatment in Saudi government hospitals. Over 1.5 million international pilgrims arrive in Saudi Arabia for Hajj According to the Bangladesh Hajj Office, 193 pilgrims have received medical care at these hospitals so far. Besides, 8,606 Bangladeshi Hajj pilgrims have returned home over the past two days on 22 flights following the completion of Hajj. Among them, 837 pilgrims returned under government management, while 7,769 came back under private arrangements. The Hajj was held on June 5 and return flights began their journeys on Tuesday (June 10). Hajj begins as pilgrims arrive in Mina for day of Tarwiyah As of Wednesday midnight, 1,409 pilgrims returned through four flights operated by Biman Bangladesh Airlines while 3,185 through eight flights by Saudi Airlines and 4,012 through 10 flights by Flynas Airlines. Return flights are scheduled to continue until July 10.  

A total of 34,776 Bangladeshi Hajj pilgrims have reached Saudi Arabia so far, according to the latest report from the Hajj office under the Religious Affairs Ministry. According to the report, the pilgrims reached Saudi Arabia by 86 flights till 10 am on Thursday. Some 52,324 Bangladeshi pilgrims are yet to depart for the pilgrimage. Meanwhile, 85,303 pilgrims have received their visas, while 1,797 are still waiting for visa issuance. Hajj flights: Ministry issues urgent notice for pilgrims who fly Tuesday

As the deadline to apply for Hajj visas concluded last night, uncertainty looms for over 11,000 pilgrims from Bangladesh who have yet to secure their visas. This situation makes their participation uncertain in this year’s Hajj, scheduled for June 16, contingent on moon sighting. As of today, the latest figures revealed that 72,138 individuals had successfully obtained their Saudi visas, with an additional 259 currently in the visa printing process. However, this leaves precisely 11,167 applicants in limbo, with their chances of attending the Hajj in jeopardy unless the Saudi government grants another extension. In response to the crisis, Faridul Haq Khan, Minister of Religious Affairs, has formally requested a third extension from the Saudi authorities to accommodate the backlog. Echoing this sentiment, Md A Hamid Zamadder, Secretary to the ministry, expressed optimism last night, telling UNB, “We remain in constant communication with our counterparts in the Saudi Ministry of Hajj and Umrah. We are hopeful for an extension in the visa application period.” Explore why boys lag behind girls in exams: PM Hasina says on SSC results Zamadder also noted that other countries, including India and Indonesia, are facing similar issues, which might influence Saudi Arabia to extend the visa deadline. Despite the government’s efforts, issues with local Hajj agencies have compounded the problem. These agencies have reportedly failed to secure accommodations in Saudi Arabia, a prerequisite for visa approval, leading to last-minute scrambles and heightened uncertainty. The agencies are now racing against time, trying to secure housing at lower rates, which has delayed visa processing. As of now, 11,017 Bangladeshi pilgrims have arrived in Saudi Arabia, with a total of 85,257 expected to perform Hajj under both government and private management. Visitors on Hajj visa prohibited from traveling outside Jeddah, Medina, and Mecca: Saudi Ministry The first batch of pilgrims departed on May 9, with flights scheduled to continue until June 10. Upon completion of Hajj, return flights are slated from June 20 through July 22. The coming days will be critical in determining whether the remaining applicants can fulfill their spiritual journey, as the ministry awaits a definitive response on the visa extension issue, expected by Monday.

Biman Bangladesh Airlines commenced its dedicated Hajj flights this morning, marking the beginning of its annual service to transport pilgrims to and from Saudi Arabia for the holy Hajj. The inaugural flight, BG3301, departed from Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport in Dhaka at 7 am, carrying 415 pilgrims directly to Jeddah. The event began with a ceremony at 5:30 am, attended by key figures including Md Faridul Haque Khan, Minister of Religious Affairs; Sajjadul Hassan, Chairman of the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Civil Aviation and Tourism; Air Vice Marshal Md Mafidur Rahman, Chairman of the Civil Aviation Authority of Bangladesh (CAAB); Shafiul Azim, Managing Director and CEO of Biman Bangladesh Airlines; and Md Shahadat Hossain Taslim, President of the Hajj Agencies Association of Bangladesh (HAAB). PM inaugurates Hajj programme-2024 This year, a record number of 85,257 Bangladeshi pilgrims will journey to Saudi Arabia to perform the Hajj, with Biman Bangladesh Airlines handling approximately 50% of these travelers, totaling 42,629 pilgrims. To accommodate this massive undertaking, Biman has scheduled 116 pre-Hajj flights and 125 post-Hajj flights. Furthermore, the airline has expanded its service to include flights from Sylhet and Chattogram, enhancing access and convenience for pilgrims across Bangladesh. Biman Bangladesh Airlines continues to operate these flights exclusively with its own fleet, underscoring its capability and readiness to manage the logistical demands of Hajj travel. Read more: Visitors on Hajj visa prohibited from traveling outside Jeddah, Medina, and Mecca: Saudi Ministry

An aircraft of Biman Bangladesh Airlines carrying 415 hajj pilgrims left Dhaka today (May 21, 2023) for Saudi Arabia -- the first hajj flight this year. The flight BG-3001 took off from Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport in Dhaka at 3:20 am and was scheduled to land in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia at 7:20 am (local time). Four more flights of Biman Bangladesh Airlines are scheduled to depart Dhaka with hajj pilgrims for the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA) today. State Minister for Civil Aviation and Tourism Md Mahbub Ali, State Minister for Religion Md Faridul Haque Khan, lawmaker Habib Hasan, Biman Governing Council Chairman Mustafa Kamal Uddin, and KSA Ambassador to Bangladesh Issa Bin Youssef Al-Dahilan, among others, saw off the hajj pilgrims at Dhaka airport. Read more: PM inaugurates Hajj programme-2023 Earlier, at an event organized to mark the first hajj flight, at the airport, State Minister Mahbub sought prayers from the pilgrims for happiness, peace, prosperity, and advancement of the country under the leadership of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina. He said all-out preparations have been taken to ensure the smooth operation of hajj flights like the past years. This year, Biman Bangladesh Airlines authorities will carry 61,111 hajj pilgrims out of total 1, 22,221 with its five aircraft. The rest will be carried by the Saudia and Flynas.   Lauding the prime minister’s diplomatic success, the state minister said the immigration of the hajj passengers at the KSA end is being completed in Dhaka under the ‘Road to Makkah Initiative’.   He said several initiatives were taken to ease sufferings of the pilgrims and no passenger has been subjected to harassment for booking tickets after initiating a new rule and enhanced monitoring since 2019. The Biman authorities concerned will conduct 162 pre-hajj flights from May 21 to June 22, and 168 post-hajj flights from July 2 to August 3 this year. Like last year, Biman will operate flights from Chattogram and Sylhet to Jeddah and Madinah along with Dhaka this year. Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina inaugurated the hajj programme on May 19. Read more: Pray that Bangladesh is safe from man-made or natural disasters: PM to Hajj pilgrims

Three more Bangladeshi hajj pilgrims have died in Saudi Arabia's Mecca in four days till Monday , according to Bangladesh Hajj Management Portal. The deceased were Tapan Khandoker, 62, from Dhaka, Layla Aktar, 52, from Madaripur, and Md Khaybar Hossain, 55, from Rangpur. Khaybar Hossain died on Sunday while Tapan and Layla died on Friday in Mecca, according to portal. Read: 2,415 more Bangladeshis can perform Hajj this year The causes of their deaths could not be immediately determined, it added. Twelve Bangladeshi hajj pilgrims, including four women, died in Saudi Arabia from June 11 to July 3 this year. This year, some 60,256 Bangladeshis will perform hajj that will start on July 6.

The government has made coronavirus vaccination mandatory for people willing to perform Hajj later this year.