Saudi Arabia authorities have warned foreign and local Hajj pilgrims, emphasizing the necessity of obtaining the required permits for participation in the upcoming season.
The Ministry of Hajj and Umrah said that performing Hajj without necessary permits is illegal and has set a fine of 50,000 Saudi riyals, equivalent to over Tk14 lakh.
Additionally, if any individual is found transporting Hajj pilgrims, who do not have proper permits, will also be slapped with a fine of up to 50,000 Saudi riyals, reports the Gulf News.
Expatriates who break these rules will go to jail for six months and then be sent out of Saudi Arabia.
Additionally, they will not be allowed to come back to the country for 10 years.
According to the Ministry of Hajj and Umrah, Hajj may be performed on June 14 subject to the sighting of the moon.
Amid preparations for the annual Hajj pilgrimage, concerns are escalating over the soaring costs and airfare monopoly affecting Bangladeshi devotees.
Despite repeated deadline extensions for registration, less than two-thirds of the quota has been filled this year, echoing a trend observed in 2023 where thousands of registrations remained unclaimed against the quota for Bangladeshi pilgrims.
