Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina performed Umrah at the Holy Mosque of Masjid on November 6 morning Al Haram in Makkah with her sister Sheikh Rehana during her three day visit to Saudi Arabia. At the time, the PM prayed for the continued peace, prosperity and progress of the Muslim Ummah including Bangladesh and its people. Later, the Prime Minister offered Fazr prayers joining the Jamaat at the holy Masjid-al Haram. The premier is expected to return home on Wednesday morning after attended meetings with OIC Secretary General Hissein Brahim Taha, Iranian vice president for Women and Family Affairs Department Enseieh Khazali, Executive Director of OIC Women Development Organisation Dr Afnan Alshuaiby and Saudi foreign minister Prince Faisal Bin Farhan. 

The process of performing Umrah in the holy city of Makkah in Saudi Arabia resumed today (Wednesday) for the Bangladeshi pilgrims who have received two doses of coronavirus vaccine. The Ministry of Religious Affairs has received a letter from the Saudi Arabian government to this end. Bangladeshi Muslim pilgrims can perform Umrah through any Umrah agency approved by the Ministry of Religious Affairs following the conditions imposed by the Saudi government, a ministry press release said. The list of approved Umrah agencies has been published on the Hajj website of the ministry (www.hajj.gov.bd), the release added. According to the Saudi Arabian government's conditions, Umrah pilgrims must take two doses of coronavirus vaccine and they should be 18 years old or above. Source: BSS AH

The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia on Sunday announced the resumption of Umrah for pilgrims abroad from August 10 following a successful Hajj season, state-run Saudi Press agency (SPA) said.   Umrah for Saudis and expatriate residents in the Kingdom restarted on Sunday.   Abdul Rahman Al Sudais, Head of the General Presidency for Affairs of the Two Holy Mosques, directed all competent affiliates to finalise preparations for receiving Umrah pilgrims and other worshippers at the Grand Mosque in Makkah.   Al Sudais urged the presidency's employees to make all efforts and observe all precautionary measures at both the Grand Mosque and the Prophet's Mosque in Medina, building on "distinguished work and organisation" shown during last week's Hajj season.   Earlier this month, the Ministry of Hajj and Umrah halted applications for praying and performing Umrah at the Grand Mosque to allow pilgrims to perform their rituals smoothly, and to complete the sanitisation of holy sites ahead of this year's Hajj season. Source: SPA/BSS AH

The Cabinet today (Monday) approved the draft of “Hajj and Umrah Management Law-2020” in principle to bring more discipline in this sector. Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina chaired the regular cabinet meeting, joining virtually from her official residence Ganabhaban while her cabinet colleagues attended the meeting at the Bangladesh Secretariat. Cabinet Secretary Khandker Anwarul Islam briefed the newsmen emerging from the meeting. He said the hajj management has been operating through a policy till the date and that is why the government faces difficulties while going to take any measure against any agency, as they (agencies) bring stay order from the High Court challenging any action. After the enactment of the new law, he said, the government can bring any hajj and umrah agency under trial in the country even if they commit any offense in Saudi Arabia. Mentioning that Saudi Arabia has changed hajj management system in 2011, the cabinet secretary said India, Pakistan, Malaysia and Indonesia has framed law and that is why Bangladesh needs a legal structure to equip with their hajj management. In the new law, he said, none without having registration under the law could deal any haji (hajj pilgrim) and the registration authority could take action against anomaly. According to the proposed law, the registration of any hajj or umrah agency can be cancelled for anomalies. Besides, a hajj agency could be fined maximum Taka 50 lakh, while an umrah agency could be slapped maximum Taka 15 lakh for irregularities, said Khandker Anwarul. If any agency gets warning in the two consecutive years, its registration would automatically be suspended for two years, he added. Besides, lawsuit can be filed against criminal offenses committed in Hajj and Umrah management, said the cabinet secretary. In the law, if any hajj-related anomaly committed even in Saudi Arabia by Bangladeshi, it could be treated that it happened in Bangladesh and legal steps including criminal and administrative actions could be taken in the country, he said. He mentioned that the Religious Affairs Ministry placed the bill in the Cabinet in line with a directive of the Cabinet issued in 2012 in order to enact a law instead of the existing policy. Source: BSS AH

Saudi Arabia said on Tuesday that it would start allowing pilgrims to perform Umrah  gradually taking  necessary precautions. The Ministry of Interior said the decision was made after assessing the developments of the coronavirus and in response to the desire of Muslims around the world to perform the ritual, according to Arab News. The first phase of the gradual return will include allowing citizens and expatriates from within the Kingdom to perform Umrah at a capacity of 30 percent from Oct. 4. This is the equivalent of 6,000 pilgrims per day. The second phase will increase the capacity of the Grand Mosque to 75 percent, which would include 15,000 pilgrims and 40,000 worshippers a day from Oct. 18. In the third phase, pilgrims from abroad would be allowed to perform Umrah as of Nov. 1 with at full capacity of 20,000 pilgrims and 60,000 worshippers per day. The fourth stage will see the Grand Mosque return to normal, when all the COVID-19 risks have gone away. The entry of pilgrims, worshippers and visitors will be regulated through an application called “I’tamarna.” The app is to be launched by the Ministry of Hajj and Umrah, with the aim of enforcing health guidelines and making it easier for pilgrims to book their journeys. The Ministry of Interior called on all people attending the holy sites to adhere to the preventive measures, wear face masks, maintain a safe distances from others, and refrain from physical contact. The ministry said Saudi Arabia wants to “empower pilgrims, both from inside and outside the Kingdom, to be able to perform “the ritual in a safe and healthy manner,” while protecting them from the threats of the pandemic.” Source: UNB AH