Ban on Umrah visas goes after 9 months
STAFF REPORTER
The Saudi Arabian authorities have decided to allot visas to Bangladeshi nationals, who want to perform Umrah, after nine months.
The Royal Embassy of Saudi Arabia in Bangladesh informed Bangladeshs foreign ministry of its governments decision in this regard in a letter on December 14.
The Saudi authorities had stopped issuance of visas to Bangladeshi nationals from March, alleging human trafficking through some corrupt hajj agencies. The Royal Embassy of Saudi Arabia in Bangladesh presents its compliments to the ministry of foreign affairs, government of the Peoples Republic of Bangladesh and, in respect of issuance of Umrah visa for Bangladeshi pilgrims for this year 1437H, has the honour to convey that the authorities concerned in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia have informed that Umrah visas have been allocated to Bangladeshi nationals through Saudi Umrah agencies, the letter stated.
For the kind information of the esteemed ministry, the Royal Embassy of Saudi Arabia in Bangladesh avails itself of this opportunity to renew to the ministry of foreign affairs, government of the Peoples Republic of Bangladesh, the assurances of its highest consideration, the letter added.
Sources at the religious affairs ministry said a list of 70 hajj agencies is published primarily to operate their activities in order to send pilgrims to Saudi Arabia to perform Umrah next year.
There are various allegations against 204 hajj agencies. The agencies that have no allegations against them are allowed to carry out Umrah activities and send pilgrims to Saudi Arabia, the sources added.
The Saudi authorities handed over a list of 104 travel agencies, suspected of conducting nefarious activities, to the Bangladesh embassy in Riyadh earlier this year. According to this list, 11,485 people, who went there to perform hajj or Umrah through these agencies last year, have not returned to Bangladesh.
In March, the Saudi government imposed restrictions on issuance of Umrah visas to Bangladeshis.
The Saudi government also warned that it would permanently stop issuance of visas to Bangladeshi pilgrims if no action was taken against the suspected agencies, sources in the ministry added.
Earlier, on November 18, the government had cancelled the licences of 69 hajj travel agencies, as they had been trafficking people to Saudi Arabia under the claim of performing Umrah ,following the Saudi authorities request.
Besides, the religious affairs ministry has also fined 26 other agencies in connection with similar allegations.
