Chief Advisor Professor Muhammad Yunus has instructed the Ministry of Religious Affairs to begin preparations immediately to ensure smooth and effective management of the upcoming Hajj.
The directive came during a meeting with ministry representatives at the state guesthouse Jamuna on Thursday, following the successful conclusion of this year’s Hajj operations.
Praising the efforts of officials involved, the Chief Advisor noted that no major complaints were reported regarding the Hajj process this year.
He urged that the best practices and operational models from this year should become institutional policy. Emphasizing the importance of training, he directed that everyone involved in Hajj management, including pilgrims, be adequately trained to ensure hassle-free participation.
The Religious Affairs Secretary informed that a roadmap for Hajj 2026 has already been published, with official announcements on quotas expected on July 10.
As part of preparations, a medical fitness certificate will be mandatory for registration, issued by district civil surgeons or directors of designated government hospitals.
Key milestones for next year’s Hajj include completing pilgrim registration by October 21, finalizing agreements with service providers by December 1, and beginning visa processing from March 20, 2026.
Flight operations are scheduled to start on April 18, followed by a service verification test (Hajj rehearsal) on May 29.
This year, 87,100 Bangladeshis performed Hajj. The `Labbayk` mobile app launched by the ministry saw over 30,000 registrations and provided real-time information to pilgrims. So far, 51,615 pilgrims have returned home.
Authorities reported 38 natural deaths during the pilgrimage, while 24 individuals are still undergoing treatment in Saudi hospitals.
Out of 806 reported lost luggage cases, 790 have been recovered. Action is being taken to cancel the licenses of 415 Hajj agencies that failed to send pilgrims for three consecutive years.
To improve future Hajj services, agencies are being evaluated and graded based on specific indicators such as service quality, contract fulfillment, and policy compliance. Agencies in the top-tier (A+) will receive official letters of appreciation from the Chief Advisor.
Additionally, the Chief Advisor emphasized improving the Labbayk app to support prospective Hajj and Umrah pilgrims with timely information and services.
