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Haj registration faces deadlock over lead agency quota rules
Published : Friday, 25 September, 2026 at 12:39 PM
Observer Online Report
Collected Photo
A serious crisis has emerged in Haj registration for the upcoming year due to a new quota allocation system enforced through lead agencies.
Although the Saudi government fixed Bangladesh's final quota at 1,27,000 pilgrims, only 78,500 people will have the opportunity to perform Haj this year, with 72,500 traveling under private management.
The new system places registration authority on lead agencies, resulting in significant administrative complications. Several agencies have failed to fill their allotted quotas, while others hold surplus pilgrim registrations but are unable to process them because the electronic system has been locked.
Frustrated agency owners questioned the rationale behind locking the registration system, stating that many agencies were left unable to register hundreds of waiting pilgrims despite high demand. They questioned whether the Haj Agencies Association of Bangladesh (HAAB) or the Ministry of Religious Affairs would take responsibility for the crisis.
Under the previous system, registrations operated on a 'first-come, first-served' basis, but the current individual quota distribution for lead agencies has created severe bottlenecks. Agency directors have urged the government to allow waiting pilgrims to submit their payment vouchers so the total number of intending pilgrims can be accurately calculated.
HAAB leaders noted that the overall private quota of 72,500 is already full, leaving many applicants on waiting lists. They stated that the only solution is for the Saudi government to increase Bangladesh's official quota, confirming that top ministry officials have assured efforts to negotiate additional seats with Saudi authorities.
-SA
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Editor : Iqbal Sobhan Chowdhury
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Published by the Editor on behalf of the Observer Ltd. from Globe Printers, 24/A, New Eskaton Road, Ramna, Dhaka.
Editorial, News and Commercial Offices : Aziz Bhaban (2nd floor), 93, Motijheel C/A, Dhaka-1000.
Phone: PABX- 41053001-06; Advertisement: 41053012; 01793317829, 01550707291, E-mail: [email protected], [email protected] Online: email: [email protected] 41053014; 01550707297 Advertisement: 01550707296
