Minister for Religious Affairs Kazi Shah Mofazzal Houssain (Kaikobad). File Photo

SANGSAD BHABAN, April 22, 2026 (BSS) - Minister for Religious Affairs Kazi Shah Mofazzal Houssain (Kaikobad) today informed the Jatiya Sangsad that the government has taken a series of effective measures to reduce Hajj expenses and ensure safe travel, healthcare, immigration, and pre-departure services for pilgrims during the current Hajj season.

Responding to a scripted question from NCP lawmaker Abdul Hannan Masud (Noakhali-6) in the House today, the minister said coordinated initiatives have been implemented to facilitate smooth movement of Hajj pilgrims from the Hajj camp to the airport.

He said a ‘dedicated traffic route’ has been introduced in coordination with Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) and traffic authorities to ensure uninterrupted movement of pilgrims, as construction of an underpass in front of the Hajj camp is ongoing.

Under the plan, he said pilgrims and their relatives, along with officials involved in Hajj operations, will access the Hajj camp via a newly constructed road passing through Kawla Rail Gate and the Civil Aviation community centre, entering through the eastern stockyard area.

“After completing formalities, vehicles will exit via the airport rail gate onto the Dhaka-Mymensingh  highway,” he said.

The Minister said transport buses carrying pilgrims to aircraft will proceed from the airport roundabout towards Uttara and enter the airport through the cargo terminal road.

To ensure medical support, a well-equipped medical centre will operate round-the-clock inside the Hajj camp with assistance from the Directorate General of Health Services.

He said the centre will be staffed by 19 doctors (10 male and 9 female), 12 sub-assistant community medical officers, 14 senior staff nurses and four sanitary inspectors. “An ambulance will remain on standby for emergency cases,” he said.

Besides, pilgrims will be able to receive primary healthcare services from this facility before departure.

The minister said immigration and boarding formalities for the Bangladesh phase are completed at the Hajj camp.

Additionally, under the “Makkah Route Initiative,” implemented with the support of the Saudi government, Saudi immigration procedures are completed at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport in Dhaka.

“This special facility spares pilgrims from undergoing immigration upon arrival in Saudi Arabia,” he said, adding that only a few countries in the world enjoy this privilege.

Before boarding, all luggage is tagged at designated counters, and under this system, pilgrims’ baggage is delivered directly to their accommodations in Makkah or Madinah.

“The government’s initiatives aim to make Hajj management more efficient, safe and pilgrim-friendly,” the minister added.