Religious Affairs Minister Kazi Shah Mofazzal Houssain Kaikobad on Monday requested the Saudi government to retain the backup accommodation quota for Bangladesh at one percent for the 2027 Hajj, instead of increasing it.
The minister made the request while paying a courtesy call to Saudi Arabian Ambassador to Bangladesh Dr Abdullah Jafar H Bin Abiyah at the Saudi Embassy in Gulshan on Monday afternoon.
The Saudi Ministry of Hajj and Umrah has fixed the backup accommodation quota at 2% for the 2027 Hajj.
The increase would raise the overall cost of Hajj, therefore, the minister requested that Bangladesh's backup accommodation quota be maintained at 1% like before.
The Saudi ambassador said he had received a semi-official letter from the Ministry of Religious Affairs on the matter yesterday and had forwarded it to the Saudi government with his recommendation.
He also praised Bangladesh's Hajj management this year and expressed satisfaction with the Ministry of Religious Affairs' prompt action on all bilateral matters.
The letter from the Ministry requests the Saudi govt to keep catering optional and fix the service charge for Service Package-3 at a level
corresponding to the value of Service Package 'D' for services in Mina and Arafah.
The minister thanked the ambassador for his role in Bangladesh's Hajj management this year.
He also thanked the Saudi government for ensuring smooth, orderly and well-organized overall Hajj management.
During the meeting, the two sides discussed the issues of mutual interest.
Earlier, the ambassador warmly received the religion minister upon his arrival at the Saudi Embassy.
