Bangladesh maintains Nov 30 deadline for Hajj registration

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The government has reaffirmed the original deadline for Hajj registration for 2025, keeping Nov 30 as the final date for prospective pilgrims to complete the process.

On Wednesday, the Ministry of Religious Affairs reiterated the deadline, initially announced on Aug 25, for both pre-registration and preliminary registration formalities for Hajj.

Prospective pilgrims, both new and those who have pre-registered, are required to secure their preliminary registration by depositing Tk 300,000 in a designated bank.

Although the initial deadline for completing Hajj registration was set as Nov 30, the ministry in a subsequent announcement on Oct 13 said that the date had been brought forward to Oct 23.

The change was intended to ensure that pilgrims could secure tent placements in preferred zones at Mina and Arafat, avoiding less desirable locations in areas like New Mina, which could pose challenges due to the long distances that they would have to travel under severe heat.

Addressing the issue, Abu Bakar Siddique, the public relations officer of the Ministry of Religious Affairs, said on Thursday, "The timeline hasn't actually been reduced or extended. We had recommended completing Hajj arrangements by Oct 23 for better management.

"As certain logistical issues like tent allocations and house rentals in Saudi Arabia were tied to that date, we emphasised it. Now, the original registration deadline is back in place."

HAJJ PACKAGES TO BE ANNOUNCED ON OCT 30

Pre-registration for the 2025 Hajj, which began on Sept 1, has seen an increase in applicants compared to last year, said Abu Bakar, citing the religious advisor.

Hajj package details will be announced on Oct 30, with efforts underway to reduce costs compared to previous years, which is expected to boost registration numbers further, he added.

As of noon on Thursday, the religious affairs ministry's Hajj portal showed that 2,075 individuals have pre-registered for Hajj through the government system, and 62,076 through private channels. Among them, 2,508 have completed their preliminary registration with the government, and 5,345 through private agencies.