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Around 10,000 devotees not flying from Shahjalal Airport will remain outside the initiative
Published : 21 Apr 2025, 07:49 PM
Pilgrims travelling from Bangladesh for Hajj this year will once again receive services under the Makkah Route Initiative, Maj Gen Md Nurul Anwar, director general of the Department of Immigration and Passports (DIP), has said.
Speaking at Le Méridien Dhaka hotel on Monday, following a meeting with a Saudi delegation, the passport chief confirmed that only those flying out from Shahjalal International Airport will be eligible for the service.
The 11-strong delegation was headed by Brig Gen Saleh bin Saad Al-Murabba, director general of the Saudi General Directorate of Passports.
“There was a bilateral meeting with the Saudi delegation [on Monday] where we discussed several issues involving Bangladeshi pilgrims, aiming to ensure a smooth and hassle-free journey,” said Nurul.
Saudi Arabia introduced the Makkah Route Initiative in 2022 under an agreement with Bangladesh.
The DIP DG outlined two core services provided through the initiative.
“One is immigration—normally completed after arrival in Saudi Arabia—which will be done at the departure airport in Bangladesh,” he said.
“The other is luggage management, handled through a smart system.
“Luggage will be transferred to the Hajj camp here, and from there, they [Saudi authorities] will handle it and deliver it to the pilgrims' destinations, specifically to the lobbies of their hotels."
The initiative is part of Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 flagship “Pilgrim Experience Programme” and is implemented by the country’s interior ministry.
The Makkah Route Initiative includes dedicated lounges at 11 airports across seven countries: Bangladesh, Morocco, Indonesia, Malaysia, Pakistan, Turkey, and Ivory Coast.
According to the Saudi Press Agency, the objective is to deliver high-quality transport services to Hajj pilgrims from participating nations.
At the press conference, Nurul said: "This morning, they [the Saudi delegation] visited the lounge and boarding bridge used by pilgrims at Shahjalal International Airport. Following their visit, they discussed several related matters."
“They sent some agenda items regarding pilgrim services,” he added.
“Since they provide this service to us, a Saudi workforce will be stationed here.”
“We held detailed discussions about their expected date of arrival, the number of personnel, and the facilities they would require during their stay.”
He expressed hope that, as in previous years, pilgrims would be able to complete immigration procedures smoothly and reach their destination without trouble.
When asked whether all pilgrims would receive the service, the DIP chief said: “This year, 87,100 people will go for Hajj. About 10,000 of them will not travel via Shahjalal Airport.
“Only those flying from Shahjalal will fall under the Makkah Route Initiative. Those travelling from other airports will not be covered.”
Addressing concerns about luggage not reaching its final destination, Nurul said: “Last year, out of 85,000 pilgrims, there were just over 100 cases of luggage issues.
“The Saudi side expressed regret and assured us that they are monitoring the issue. I believe we also have some areas to improve, and we are trying to address those.”
Additional Secretary Matiul Islam from the Hajj Wing of the Ministry of Religious Affairs said, “To improve luggage management, we’ve made two proposals.
“One involves attaching [Radio Frequency Identification] tags to each piece of luggage.
“These tags can be tracked via readers and scanners placed at key points. If a bag is lost or swapped, we can quickly detect and retrieve it.”
In response to a question, he said: “The accommodation arrangements for all pilgrims facing housing complications in Saudi Arabia have been resolved. Nearly 40,000 visas have already been approved.”
“This year too, immigration, boarding, and check-in for the Bangladesh side will be completed at the Hajj camp, and Saudi pre-arrival processing will take place at Shahjalal International Airport,” the official concluded.
