Saudi Arabia has informed Bangladesh that pilgrims whose accommodation is not arranged by their agencies within the set deadline will not be allowed to perform Hajj. The directive was conveyed through a letter sent to 30 lead agencies, prompting Bangladesh’s Ministry of Religious Affairs to instruct them to finalize all housing arrangements in Makkah and Madinah by January 28.

According to the ministry, Bangladeshi pilgrims will travel through both government and private channels, with 73,935 private pilgrims managed by the 30 lead agencies. The Saudi Ministry of Hajj and Umrah has repeatedly urged completion of housing contracts, expressing dissatisfaction with the slow progress.

During a virtual meeting on January 23, the Saudi ministry’s director general described the current pace of accommodation arrangements for Bangladeshi pilgrims as disappointing and reiterated that any pilgrim without confirmed housing by the deadline will be barred from performing Hajj.