Hajj 2027: Reduced pilgrims quota nears full

Though the Saudi Arabian government has reduced Bangladesh’s Hajj quota to 78,500 for 2027, from 127,198 in the previous year, some 75,918 pilgrims had registered under government and private arrangements by 6:30pm on Friday, a day after the formal registration deadline, leaving only 2,582 places vacant.

According to sources at the Hajj Office in Ashkona, at least 25,000 privately managed pilgrims who have completed pre-registration could remain unable to secure places for next year’s Hajj if the quota is not increased.

But, the Ministry of Religious Affairs claimed that although the registration deadline ended on Thursday, the Saudi authorities kept the registration system open until Friday. More than 300 pilgrims subsequently completed their registration. The ministry hopes Saudi Arabia will allow Bangladesh to fill its allocated quota.

According to registration data at the end of the scheduled registration period, a total of 75,607 pilgrims had registered under government and private arrangements. The number rose to 75,918 by 6:30pm on Friday. Based on the latest figure, the quota has room for only 2,582 more pilgrims.

The Ministry of Religious Affairs and the Hajj Agencies Association of Bangladesh (HAAB) said many pre-registered pilgrims could remain outside the final list if the quota is exhausted.

Yet, officials said the government would seek an increase in Bangladesh’s quota from Saudi Arabia if the number of registered pilgrims exceeds the allocation.