Religious Affairs Minister Meets Saudi Ambassador: Requests Retaining 1% Backup Accommodation

Kazi Shah Mofazzal Houssain (Kaikobad), the Minister for Religious Affairs, has requested the Saudi government to retain the backup accommodation quota at 1% for Bangladesh for the 2027 Hajj.

He made the request during a meeting with Dr. Abdullah Zafer H. Bin Abiyah, the Ambassador of Saudi Arabia to Bangladesh, at the Saudi Embassy in Gulshan, Dhaka, this afternoon.

The Ministry of Hajj and Umrah of Saudi Arabia has fixed the backup accommodation at 2% for the 2027 Hajj, which will increase the overall cost of Hajj. Consequently, the Religious Affairs Minister requested that the backup accommodation for Bangladesh be retained at 1%, as it was for the 2026 Hajj.

The Saudi Ambassador stated that he received a semi-official letter from the Ministry of Religious Affairs regarding this matter yesterday (Sunday) and has forwarded it to the Saudi government with his recommendation. He commended Bangladesh’s Hajj management this year and expressed satisfaction with the Ministry of Religious Affairs' prompt action on various bilateral matters.

It is worth noting that the semi-official letter from the ministry also highlighted keeping catering optional and setting the service price for Service Package-3 equivalent to the value of Service Package 'D' in Mina-Arafat.

The Minister thanked the Ambassador for his outstanding role in managing Bangladesh's Hajj operations this year. He also expressed his gratitude to the Saudi government for ensuring that overall Hajj management remained smooth, orderly, and well-organized.

Furthermore, both sides discussed issues of mutual interest, including strengthening and consolidating the existing bilateral relations between the two countries.

Earlier, upon arriving at the Saudi Embassy, the Religious Affairs Minister was warmly received by the Ambassador. Senior embassy officials were also present at the meeting.