Bangladesh has urged authorities in Saudi Arabia to reconsider the 20% cut in quota for foreign pilgrims and to establish a web portal service to expedite various Hajj procedures, Arab News reported on its online edition yesterday.
Bangladesh Religious Affairs Minister Mohammed Mutiur Rahman discussed the two important issues with Saudi Hajj Minister Bandar Hajjjar on Sunday in Jeddah, the English-language daily said quoting Bangladesh Consul General Mohammad Nazmul Islam.
“We discussed a wide range of subjects related to improvement of Hajj services for pilgrims, including introduction of an electronic web portal and also the need to restore actual quota” Islam told the Saudi newspaper.
A Hajj Ministry official said the quota for Bangladesh was one lakh, which both sides had signed.
According to the Saudi ministry, the 20% reduction in quota would be applied not only this year, but also next year due to an expansion project at the Grand Mosque in Mecca.
The Bangladesh delegation included Religious Affairs Secretary Kazi Habibul Awal, Hajj consul Asaduz Zaman and other senior officials.
