Uncertainty over Sinopharm vaccine receivers to go for Umrah

Uncertainty still prevails for Umrah pilgrims if they take the Chinese Sinopharm coronavirus vaccine. 

But discussion is underway with Saudi Arabia.

Religious affairs secretary Dr Md. Nurul Islam expressed his optimism over resolving the issue as early as possible. 

A gazette notification issued by the Saudi Hajj and Umrah affairs ministry said that the pilgrims must take the vaccine produced by Pfizer, Moderna, Oxford-AstraZeneca and J&J creating an uncertainty of Bangladeshi Umrah expectants over their pilgrimage. 

Hajj Agencies Association of Bangladesh (HAAB) requested the concerned authority to put more efforts to resolve the crisis. 

The Religious ministry has been requested to discuss the issue with the Saudi government, HAAB president M Shahadat Hossain told The Report. 

Besides, the body also requested to reduce ticket price and reissuance of tickets if anyone tested positive for Covid-19 in PCR test. 

On Sunday, a webinar was organised regarding the issue of Bangladeshi pilgrims. 

State minister for religious affairs Md. Faridul Haque Khan, state minister for civil aviation Mahbub Ali and Saudi ambassador to Dhaka Essa Yousef Essa Alduhailan were present in the webinar among other discussants. 

Upholding the findings of the discussion the HAAB president said, the ministry assured them of discussing the issue with the KSA officials. 

Counselor (Hajj) of Bangladesh embassy’s consulate office in Jeddah, Jahirul Islam, said postive result might come soon regarding the issue.