Bangladesh signs Hajj agreement with Saudi Arabia, quota rises to 83,500 for 2027

Bangladesh has signed a bilateral agreement with Saudi Arabia on the management of the Hajj for 2027. At the same time, the Saudi government has increased the quota for Bangladeshi pilgrims by another 5,000, meaning 83,500 people from Bangladesh will be able to perform Hajj next year.

The agreement was signed in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, at 7pm local time on Monday (9 November). Religious Affairs Minister Kazi Shah Mofazzal Hossain (Kaykobad) signed on behalf of Bangladesh, while Saudi Minister of Hajj and Umrah Dr Tawfiq bin Fawzan Al-Rabiah signed for Saudi Arabia.

At the signing ceremony, the religious affairs minister held detailed discussions with the Saudi hajj and umrah minister on the progress of Bangladesh's overall Hajj management.

After the agreement was concluded, the minister said the bilateral Hajj agreement with Saudi Arabia had been completed successfully.

He said that, at the Bangladesh government's special request, the Saudi minister immediately announced an increase of 5,000 in the pilgrim quota.

As a result, 83,500 people from Bangladesh will be able to perform Hajj in 2027. Previously, the quota fixed for Bangladesh was 78,500.

The minister also said the question of the limited tent capacity at Mina in Saudi Arabia came up in the discussions on fixing the pilgrim quota.

Despite that limitation, the Saudi minister assured Bangladesh that if any other country is unable to send pilgrims under its fixed quota, or if any country's quota is cancelled, that quota will be given to Bangladesh on a priority basis.

The minister expressed gratitude to Saudi King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman Al Saud.

He also thanked the Saudi hajj and umrah minister, the Saudi ambassador to Bangladesh, Dr Abdullah Jafar H. bin Abiyah, and the officials concerned for increasing the pilgrim quota and for their overall cooperation.

The minister also said the present government, led by Prime Minister Tarique Rahman, is working tirelessly to make Hajj management easier, more transparent and more service-oriented.

Those present at the signing ceremony included Saudi Assistant Minister for Hajj and Umrah Dr Al Hasan Al Monakha, Religious Affairs Secretary Munshi Alauddin Al Azad, Additional Secretary (Hajj) Dr Md Ayatul Islam, Saudi Ambassador to Bangladesh Dr Abdullah Jafar H. bin Abiyah, Bangladesh Ambassador to Saudi Arabia Md Delowar Hossain, Consul General at the Bangladesh Consulate in Jeddah Md Sakhawat Hossain, and Counsellor (Hajj) Md Kamrul Islam, along with other officials.