The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia has given permission to 5,000 more pilgrims in addition to its fixed quota for Bangladesh to perform hajj this time, according to sources of Bangladesh Embassy in Riyadh.
The permission came two days after Bangladesh’s Ministry of Religion Affairs sent a letter to Saudi Arabian embassy in Dhaka, requesting to increase the hajjis’ quota by 3,000 in additions to the regular number of pilgrims.
The Moyassasar chairman, who is dealing with the responsibility of the hajj management committee, has verbally informed them, Md Asaduzzaman, hajj counselor of the embassy, told reporters.
He said the Saudi government would make arrangements for hajj if pilgrims arrive in the country as soon as possible.
As per this years’ quota set by the Saudi Arabian government, a total of 101,758 pilgrims from Bangladesh are likely to perform hajj, the fifth of five obligatory duties in Islam.
Performing hajj by over 25,000 expected pilgrims have become uncertain as quota for Bangladesh has already exceeded, according to hajj office.