- The sea journey would take 16 days
- Sea journey cost will be 40% lower than air travel
- All preparations must be completed by December
Muslim worshippers pray around the Kaaba, Islam`s holiest shrine, at the Grand Mosque in Saudi Arabia`s holy city of Mecca on June 11, 2024 ahead of the annual hajj pilgrimage. Photo: AFP
It has already sent a letter to the Saudi government regarding this matter. However, it is still uncertain whether the sea route for Hajj pilgrims will be feasible by June 2025.
Officials at the Ministry of Religious Affairs mentioned that historically, the Hajj pilgrimage from what is now Bangladesh by sea date back to the Sultanate era, starting in 1204.
Back then, pilgrims would travel from Chittagong port on sailboats.
The last sea pilgrimage from Bangladesh took place around 1980 during President Ziaur Rahman’s rule on a ship named Hizbul Bahar.
Afterward, during Ershad’s regime, air travel became the primary method for Hajj pilgrims to reach Mecca.
Now, after 44 years, the ministry is reconsidering sending Hajj pilgrims by sea, in addition to air travel, with the primary goal of reducing costs for the pilgrims.
Officials say that even if Bangladesh wishes to proceed, Saudi Arabia’s approval is also required.
Once they evaluate and approve Bangladesh’s proposal, the full process of sending Hajj pilgrims by sea will commence.
For the past few years, this idea has been discussed, but previous governments were not particularly interested due to the long travel times and various challenges, and Saudi Arabia had not granted permission.
However, the current interim government is very interested in reviving the sea route, as it would significantly reduce costs.
On October 6, Bangladesh’s Religious Affairs Adviser AFM Khalid Hossain met with Saudi Arabia’s Hajj and Umrah Minister Dr Tawfiq Fawzan Al-Rabiah in Jeddah.
The proposal to resume Hajj by sea received preliminary approval from Saudi authorities, according to ministry official Abu Bakar Siddique.
He further mentioned that the Saudi Hajj Minister confirmed that there are no objections from the Saudi government regarding sending Bangladeshi pilgrims by sea, though discussions with the port authorities are still needed.
Additionally, Bangladesh must finalize agreements with shipping companies before making a final decision.
This year, the Bangladesh government is considering sending two to three thousand pilgrims by ship on a trial basis.
Sources from the ministry indicated that next year’s Hajj will take place in the first week of June.
Bangladesh plans to send 127,198 pilgrims to Saudi Arabia for the Hajj. Registration for Hajj will end on November 30.
If pilgrims are to be sent by sea, all preparations must be completed by December.
Hence, it seems unlikely that this process will be completed this year.
To ensure smooth Hajj management, pilgrims must deposit Tk300,000 in the bank and complete their primary registration by October 23.
A special notice from the Hajj wing of the Ministry of Religious Affairs has been issued regarding this matter.
The notice emphasized that according to the roadmap set by Saudi Arabia, tent allocation in Mina and Arafat and contract signing with service companies will begin on October 23.
Tent allocation follows a “first come, first served” basis.
Pilgrims who do not complete registration by this date may not get tents in their desired zones in Mina and Arafat.
If there is a delay in tent allocation and contract signing, pilgrims may have to stay far away in the mountainous areas or New Mina, leading to long and difficult walks in extreme heat.
If pilgrims can be sent by ship, the cost will be 40% lower than air travel.
The sea journey would take 16 days (8 days to go and 8 days to return), and the entire Hajj would take about a month.
Previously, the sea journey took about 28 days (14 days to reach Saudi Arabia and 14 days to return).
Once Saudi Arabia gives final approval and Bangladesh is fully prepared, the sea route will be included in the Hajj agreement in January.
Hajj costs have increased significantly over the past few years.
This year, the cost for the general package under the government’s arrangement was Tk578,840, while the special package cost Tk936,320. For private packages, the minimum cost was Tk589,800, and the special package cost Tk699,300.
Due to these high costs, 41,941 fewer people performed Hajj this year than the allocated quota.
The Hajj package for next year has not yet been announced, but the government is considering ways to reduce costs.
Additional Secretary of the Hajj Wing, Motiul Islam, said that last Wednesday, they officially sent a letter to Saudi authorities regarding sending pilgrims by sea. Now they are awaiting a response.
“If approved, Bangladesh will need to negotiate with shipping companies. The government is trying to send pilgrims by sea this year, but if not possible, the plan will be implemented next year, Insha’Allah. Preliminary discussions with several shipping companies have already taken place,” he added.
Source: Dhakar tribune
