In a surprising move without prior announcement, Saudi Arabia has drastically reduced the number of Umrah visas being issued. Under a newly introduced quota system, only 8–10% of Bangladeshi applicants are now receiving visas, a figure that dropped to just 2–3% towards the end of Ramadan. As a result, between 35,000 and 40,000 Bangladeshi pilgrims with pre-booked flights and hotel reservations are unable to perform Umrah, while 55,000 others have been forced to cancel their plans.
Affected pilgrims and leaders from the Hajj Agencies Association of Bangladesh (HAAB) have called for immediate government intervention to resolve the crisis.
HAAB officials stated that Bangladesh ranks sixth globally in the number of Umrah pilgrims. Typically, the Saudi Embassy in Dhaka issues around 75,000 Umrah visas monthly, with demand surging during Ramadan. In March alone, over 100,000 applications were submitted, but only about 24,000 visas were approved — mostly in early March. Towards the end of the month, the approval rate plummeted to just 3–4%.
The Ministry of Religious Affairs explained that the visa reduction was due to severe overcrowding in Mecca and Medina, where the number of visitors has far exceeded capacity. As a result, only 2–3 visas are being granted for every 100 applications from Bangladesh. However, they admitted having no official information from Saudi authorities explaining the sudden change.
HAAB representatives stressed that the abrupt decision has left more than 55,000 intending pilgrims stranded, with 35,000 already holding non-refundable flight tickets. Many pilgrims are now seeking refunds from travel agencies, while agencies themselves are facing severe financial losses.
Pilgrims report that each individual who prepared for Umrah has lost between BDT 30,000 to 40,000 due to non-refundable expenses. Agency owners and service providers, such as Muallims, are also facing substantial losses.
Md. Shahjahan, a businessman from Lalbagh, Dhaka, shared his experience, saying that he had booked tickets and hotels for himself and his family to perform Umrah during Ramadan. Despite paying advance fees to a travel agency, his visa was not issued even after a month, forcing him to cancel his plans. Ticket cancellations and hotel booking charges have led to an estimated loss of around BDT 100,000 for his family alone.
Similar stories are being reported by thousands of other pilgrims and travel agencies who are now struggling to deal with the financial and emotional consequences of the Saudi government's unexpected decision.
HAAB Secretary General Farid Ahmed Majumder said, "The sudden restriction on Umrah visas has caused immense suffering for pilgrims and significant financial damage to travel agencies. Many agencies had made advance payments for tickets and hotel bookings, and now cancellations are leading to major losses."
He added that HAAB has officially approached the Ministry of Religious Affairs and the Saudi Embassy but has yet to receive any positive response. They have urged the ministries of Religious Affairs and Foreign Affairs to intervene promptly to resolve the crisis and prevent the collapse of hundreds of agencies and the unemployment of thousands involved in the Umrah business.
Speaking on the matter, Religious Affairs Adviser A.F.M. Khalid Hossain explained that initially, Umrah visas were issued through the Nusuk app, but due to overcrowding in Mecca and Medina, Saudi Arabia reduced visa issuance by 90%. The current influx of visitors even surpasses the Hajj season, making worship challenging.
He confirmed that letters have been sent to the Saudi government and the embassy, requesting normalization of Umrah visa processing. Airlines have also been approached to facilitate refunds for canceled flights.
Religious Affairs Secretary A.K.M. Aftab Hossain Pramanik clarified that there is no formal bilateral agreement between Bangladesh and Saudi Arabia regarding Umrah, making direct negotiations difficult. Nevertheless, efforts to communicate with Saudi authorities are ongoing, and pilgrims who deposited money for Umrah packages are expected to receive refunds.
Umrah Visa Costs Double Amid Crisis
Ordinarily, securing an Umrah visa costs around BDT 17,000–18,000. However, due to the sudden visa restrictions, the cost has now skyrocketed to BDT 30,000–35,000 per visa, without any guarantee of approval. Currently, out of ten applications, only one visa is being granted.
Hamid Sarkar, owner of Baitullah Hajj Services, stated, "Ramadan is usually a peak season for us, but this year, our business has collapsed. Out of 150 applications, only seven visas were approved."
He added that each stranded pilgrim faces an average financial loss of over BDT 30,000 due to ticket and hotel cancellations, in addition to higher fees for those who manage to secure a visa.
