The Ministry of Religious Affairs has issued a warning letter to Biman Bangladesh Airlines and Saudia Airlines mentioning the suffering of Hajj pilgrims leaving Bangladesh using their airlines.
A letter signed by the ministry’s Deputy Secretary Abul Kashem Muhammad Shaheen was handed over to the airlines on Thursday, reports Bangla Tribune.
According to the letter, a number of Medina-bound pilgrims are being taken to Jeddah almost every day on scheduled flights of Biman Bangladesh Airlines and Saudia Airlines.
The pilgrims are being taken to Medina by road again, 450 kilometres away from Jeddah, after a long flight which causes them immense suffering.
The Ministry of Hajj and Umrah in Saudi Arabia also expressed the same concern.
Also Read: Another Bangladeshi pilgrim dies in Saudi Arabia
Calling the Counsellor (Hajj) of the Bangladesh Hajj Office in Jeddah Mohammad Zahirul Islam, the Saudi Ministry of Hajj and Umrah said that the route to Mecca has been made to alleviate the suffering of the Hajj pilgrims.
Medina-bound pilgrims are facing difficulty in this way by being brought to Jeddah, the ministry said, requesting them to refrain from such activities.
The Ministry of Religious Affairs in Bangladesh has instructed the two airlines not to send any Hajj-bound pilgrims to Jeddah.
Meanwhile, 15,724 pilgrims arrived in Saudi Arabia on 42 flights till Thursday. Of these, 3,385 went through government facility while 12,339 went privately.
Biman Bangladesh Airlines has operated 24 Hajj flights, Saudia Airlines 13, and Flynas five flights.
The first flight of Hajj pilgrims left Bangladesh for Saudi Arabia on June 5 and will continue till July 4.
Hajj is going to be held on July 8 depending on moon sighting with participation of a million pilgrims from across the world.