Saudi Arabia has not announced Hajjj 2021 policy for this year yet, however, Bangladesh keeps complete arrangements to send limited pilgrims for Hajj.
This year’s Hajj would be a bit costlier as compared to the expenses incurred on the Hajj pilgrimage last year due to adequate covid SOPs.
However, an exact estimation can be made after the final announcement of Saudi Arabia regarding SOPs and the number of pilgrims.
It would not be possible for Saudi Arabia to make normal arrangements as there’s a little time left for the Hajj.
Saudi Arabia will be able to make limited arrangements, but it has not confirmed the number of pilgrims and SOPs.
The government was in contact with Saudi Arabian authorities and Saudi Arabia also wanted to take major Muslim countries in confidence before the final decision.
Saudi Arabia was making strict SOPs counter coronavirus during Hajj, and Bangladesh would be ensuring the implementation of these SOPs.
All pilgrims would have to take a negative covid-19 test before departure and upon arrival in Saudi Arabia, all pilgrims would have to do a 3-days quarantine. Also, the covid-19 test would also be mandatory on arrival in Madina from Makkah and on returning back to Makkah. According to Federal Minister, there will be a specific time for every country to perform Tawaf-e-Ziarat and Umrah in the Haram to avoid the rush.
Bangladesh has the capability to complete arrangements in a short time on allotment of the Hajj 2021 quota by Saudi Arabia. Regarding the issue of Saudi Arabia’s denial of the Chinese vaccine, Bangladesh has the opportunity to get more quota compared to Pakistan since Saudi Arabia still did not recognize the Chinese vaccine though WHO has approved the Sinopharm vaccine of China and most of Bangladeshis have been administered with the AstraZeneca.
In the proposed Hajj 2021 policy, Saudi Arabia has recommended vaccines including Pfizer, AstraZeneca, Moderna, and Johnson and Johnson.
Bangladesh Government has no intention of limiting religious freedom but it is aimed at motivating religious scholars to talk about social issues.
Religious scholars should also talk about issues like cleanliness, child’s rights, women’s inheritance rights, and mother care as Jumma sermons should be used as a tool of social reforms.
