BD's 2027 Hajj quota raised to 83,500

Saudi Arabia has agreed to allocate an additional 5,000 Hajj seats to Bangladesh for 2027, raising the country's total quota to 83,500. However, the revised allocation remains 43,698 short of Bangladesh's population-based entitlement of 1,27,198, leaving at least 15,000 pre-registered pilgrims unable to perform Hajj next year.

According to a press release issued by the Ministry of Religious Affairs late Monday night, the official bilateral Hajj Agreement for 2027 was signed between Bangladesh and Saudi Arabia in a cordial atmosphere in Jeddah on Monday.

Religious Affairs Minister Kazi Shah Mofazzal Hossain Kaikobad and Saudi Minister of Hajj and Umrah Dr Tawfig bin Fawzan Al-Rabiah signed the agreement on behalf of their respective governments.

Following the signing, Kaikobad described the bilateral discussions as highly successful, saying Saudi Arabia had approved an additional 5,000 seats following a special request from Bangladesh. The increase takes the country's total allocation for 2027 to 83,500.

In the previous Hajj season, 78,500 Bangladeshis performed the pilgrimage under government and private management. 

Based on its population, Bangladesh is normally entitled to send 1,27,198 pilgrims for Hajj each year. However, amid declining interest in performing the pilgrimage in recent years, Saudi Arabia has reduced the allocation, resulting in a significant gap between Bangladesh's entitlement and the number of pilgrims permitted to travel.