Jeddah, KSA (BBN) – A medical team comprising 200 medics and paramedics will assist the 100,000 Bangladesh pilgrims slated to arrive in Jeddah from Aug. 27, the country’s envoy, Mohammed Shahidul Islam, told Arab News following his meeting with Haj Minister Bandar Hajjar in Jeddah on Monday.
The medical team will arrive with the administrative delegation and will man the country’s clinics in Jeddah, Makkah, Madinah and the Haj terminal.
The ambassador expressed gratitude to the Saudi government for its efficiency in managing the mass Haj gathering every year. The affairs of pilgrims traveling from Bangladesh during this year’s Haj season were discussed during the meeting, as well as efforts and achievements made by the government.
Islam praised the attention, care, and direct supervision provided by Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah and Crown Prince Salman, deputy premier and minister of defense, to Haj affairs.
Islam also appreciated the services, technological facilities and human resources provided by the Haj Ministry.
Islam said Bangladeshi pilgrims would be ferried this year by Biman and Saudi Arabian Airlines. “There will be a total of around 136 flights, which will be shared by the two airlines.”
This year, a total of 1,500 pilgrims out of 100,000 coming from Bangladesh will perform the annual pilgrimage under government management.
Performing the Haj will cost Bangladeshi pilgrims around BDT 300,000 (SR14,000) under the government and an average of SR12,000 if arranged privately.
The package would cover travel, meals and accommodation in the holy cities, while other pilgrims would come through accredited travel and Haj operators based in across Bangladesh.
“Private travel operators offer a variety of packages to suit all tastes, but accommodation in starred hotels would definitely cost pilgrims much more than the government quota,” he said.
Bangladesh’s new Consul General, A.K.M. Shahidul Karim, would supervise the operations at administrative offices in Jeddah, Makkah and Madinah to assist pilgrims.
BBN/SSR/AD-16Aug14-1:11 am (BST)
