Government officials pulled off a massive logistical victory when nearly 87,000 religious travelers completed their sacred journey without major airport headaches. Religious Affairs Adviser Dr AFM Khalid Hossain bragged about the smooth operation during a ministry press conference at the Secretariat. Chief Adviser Prof Mohammad Yunus had demanded zero tolerance for pilgrim problems and threatened consequences for any failures. The government ditched private hajj agencies and took direct control of the entire pilgrimage management system. Officials stressed that profit motives played no role in their religious service mission.
Yunus kept tabs on the pilgrimage situation even while believers stayed in Saudi Arabia. The operation concluded on June 8, with return flights operating from June 10 to July 10. Government teams worked around the clock from 7 am until midnight, providing hotel services to state-managed pilgrims. Medical facilities were operated at key locations, including Makkah, Madinah, and a Bangladesh Plaza at Jeddah Airport. Authorities assigned one guide for every 46 travelers and stationed government personnel at key locations in Mina and Arafa.
The enhanced supervision system dramatically reduced the number of lost pilgrims compared to previous years. Officials reported that 892 travelers went missing during the journey, but managed to locate 891 of them. The adviser credited the Chief Adviser's hands-on approach and zero-tolerance policy for the successful outcome.
Yunus kept tabs on the pilgrimage situation even while believers stayed in Saudi Arabia. The operation concluded on June 8, with return flights operating from June 10 to July 10. Government teams worked around the clock from 7 am until midnight, providing hotel services to state-managed pilgrims. Medical facilities were operated at key locations, including Makkah, Madinah, and a Bangladesh Plaza at Jeddah Airport. Authorities assigned one guide for every 46 travelers and stationed government personnel at key locations in Mina and Arafa.
The enhanced supervision system dramatically reduced the number of lost pilgrims compared to previous years. Officials reported that 892 travelers went missing during the journey, but managed to locate 891 of them. The adviser credited the Chief Adviser's hands-on approach and zero-tolerance policy for the successful outcome.
