DHAKA, April 23, 2026 (BSS) - Thirty-three stranded Umrah pilgrims have returned home following prompt initiatives taken by Religious Affairs Minister Kazi Shah Mofazzal Houssain (Kaikobad). 

They had travelled to Saudi Arabia on March 24 through Mask Hajj Group travel agency to perform the holy Umrah, according to a letter sent by the Counsellor of the Bangladesh Hajj Office in Saudi Arabia.

The agency had told them they would return home on April 5.

However, as the agency failed to provide return tickets on time, their return became uncertain. On April 18, the visas of these Umrah pilgrims also expired.

The Counsellor of the Bangladesh Hajj Office in Jeddah wrote to the Ministry of Religious Affairs regarding the return of these stranded pilgrims to Bangladesh.

After being informed, the religious affairs minister requested Consul General at the Bangladesh Consulate in Jeddah Md Shakhawat Hossain to take necessary measures to bring the stranded pilgrims back home. 

Following the minister’s instructions, a delegation led by Consul General visited the stranded pilgrims at their hotel and coordinated with the agency to arrange their return. The final group of stranded pilgrims is scheduled to return home today, April 23.

To ensure that the pilgrims would not face difficulties due to visa expiry, the Bangladesh Hajj Office in Jeddah sent a letter to Saudi airport immigration authorities.

Some Umrah pilgrims of the same agency faced similar problems last month as well. Later, following the intervention of the Religious Affairs Minister, the agency owner arranged their return.