DHAKA: Bangladeshis who took part in this year’s Hajj began to return home on Thursday after completing the final pilgrimage rituals before leaving the holy city of Makkah.
A total of 85,252 Bangladeshi pilgrims were among almost 2 million Muslims who traveled to Makkah and Madinah to take part in the spiritual journey that is one of the five pillars of Islam.
They reached the Kingdom on 218 special flights that began one month ahead of the main rituals.
Most of the flights were facilitated under the Makkah Route initiative — the Kingdom’s flagship program launched in 2019 to streamline immigration procedures, helping pilgrims to meet visa, customs and health requirements at their airport of origin, and save them long hours of waiting before and on arrival in Saudi Arabia.
“The best part of this year’s Hajj management was the operation of Makkah Route facilities at Dhaka. It offered a pleasant journey to the Hajj pilgrims at the outset of their travel. It’s a testimony to Saudi hospitality for the Hajj pilgrims,” Shahadat Hossain Taslim, president of the Hajj Agencies Association of Bangladesh, told Arab News from Makkah as he oversaw preparations for the worshippers’ return.
“Many pilgrims expressed their utmost satisfaction with the management and the operations style of Makkah Route facilities at Dhaka. For the pilgrims, this Makkah Route facility is a privilege.”
Immigration processes have been frequently updated to make the procedures more accessible, particularly for the elderly and those with disabilities, as well as to ensure luggage is delivered straight to their hotels in Makkah and Madinah.
This year, new software and hardware were added at Dhaka airport, making the Makkah Route even faster than in 2023. On arrival in Saudi Arabia, processes have also been easier.
“Saudi authorities have increased the number of people in their Hajj management process. It offered ease to the pilgrims, availing any assistance or help,” Taslim said.
Emergency helplines and call centers were also improved, and ailing pilgrims were taken to “world-class treatment” facilities where they received the best care, he said.
“The Kingdom’s authorities are really successful here. Their hospitals are offering services in a way that whenever they receive patients, immediately the patient starts treatment ... The patient would receive up to tertiary-level care, and everything is free of cost. It’s a great offer in terms of Hajj management.”
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First Bangladeshi pilgrims return home after completing Hajj rituals
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First Bangladeshi pilgrims return home after completing Hajj rituals
- More than 85,000 Bangladeshis perform pilgrimage this year
- Praise for ‘world-class’ treatment offered to ailing worshippers in Saudi Arabia
Cambodia says Thailand bombs casino hub on border
PHNOM PENH: Cambodia said Thailand’s military on Thursday bombed the casino town of Poipet, a major crossing between the two nations, as foreign powers pressured them to halt reignited border clashes.
Thai forces “dropped two bombs in the area of Poipet Municipality, Banteay Meanchey Province” at around 11:00 am (0400 GMT) Thursday, the Cambodian defense ministry said in a statement.
Thailand has not yet confirmed any strike on Poipet — a bustling casino hub popular with Thai gamblers.
The renewed fighting between the Southeast Asian neighbors this month has killed at least 21 people in Thailand and 17 in Cambodia, while displacing around 800,000, officials said.
The conflict stems from a territorial dispute over the colonial-era demarcation of their 800-kilometer (500-mile) border and a smattering of ancient temple ruins situated on the frontier.
Each side has blamed the other for instigating the fresh fighting and traded accusations of attacks on civilians.
Thailand said Tuesday that between 5,000 and 6,000 Thai nationals remained stranded in Poipet after Cambodia closed its land border crossings with its neighbor.
Cambodia’s interior ministry said the border closures were a “necessary measure” to reduce risks to civilians amid the ongoing combat, adding that air travel remained an option for those seeking to leave.
At least four casinos in Cambodia have been damaged by Thai strikes, the interior ministry said this week.
- ‘Shuttle-diplomacy’ -
Five days of fighting between Cambodia and Thailand in July killed dozens of people before a truce was brokered by the United States, China and Malaysia, and then broken within months.
US President Donald Trump, who has repeatedly intervened in the long-standing conflict this year, claimed last week that the two countries had agreed to a new ceasefire.
But Bangkok denied any truce had been agreed, and fighting with artillery, tanks, drones and jets has continued daily since a border skirmish earlier this month sparked the latest round of conflict.
China said it was sending its special envoy for Asian affairs to Cambodia and Thailand on Thursday for a “shuttle-diplomacy trip” to help bridge the gaps and “rebuild peace.”
“Through its own way, China has been working actively for deescalation,” Beijing’s foreign ministry said in a statement late Wednesday.
Foreign ministers from ASEAN regional bloc nations are due to meet on Monday in Malaysia for emergency talks aimed at finding a diplomatic solution.
“Our duty is to present the facts but more important is to press upon them that it is imperative for them to secure peace,” Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim told journalists late Wednesday.
“We are appealing to them to immediately stop this frontline offensive and if possible, an immediate ceasefire,” Anwar said at his official residence in Putrajaya, adding that he was “cautiously optimistic” about the talks.
European Commission vice president Kaja Kallas said in a statement that she had spoken with the foreign ministers of Cambodia and Thailand on Wednesday, offering the European Union’s support for ceasefire monitoring with satellite imagery.
“The conflict between Thailand and Cambodia must not be allowed to spiral further. That’s why the ceasefire needs to be immediately restored,” Kallas said.
Thai forces “dropped two bombs in the area of Poipet Municipality, Banteay Meanchey Province” at around 11:00 am (0400 GMT) Thursday, the Cambodian defense ministry said in a statement.
Thailand has not yet confirmed any strike on Poipet — a bustling casino hub popular with Thai gamblers.
The renewed fighting between the Southeast Asian neighbors this month has killed at least 21 people in Thailand and 17 in Cambodia, while displacing around 800,000, officials said.
The conflict stems from a territorial dispute over the colonial-era demarcation of their 800-kilometer (500-mile) border and a smattering of ancient temple ruins situated on the frontier.
Each side has blamed the other for instigating the fresh fighting and traded accusations of attacks on civilians.
Thailand said Tuesday that between 5,000 and 6,000 Thai nationals remained stranded in Poipet after Cambodia closed its land border crossings with its neighbor.
Cambodia’s interior ministry said the border closures were a “necessary measure” to reduce risks to civilians amid the ongoing combat, adding that air travel remained an option for those seeking to leave.
At least four casinos in Cambodia have been damaged by Thai strikes, the interior ministry said this week.
- ‘Shuttle-diplomacy’ -
Five days of fighting between Cambodia and Thailand in July killed dozens of people before a truce was brokered by the United States, China and Malaysia, and then broken within months.
US President Donald Trump, who has repeatedly intervened in the long-standing conflict this year, claimed last week that the two countries had agreed to a new ceasefire.
But Bangkok denied any truce had been agreed, and fighting with artillery, tanks, drones and jets has continued daily since a border skirmish earlier this month sparked the latest round of conflict.
China said it was sending its special envoy for Asian affairs to Cambodia and Thailand on Thursday for a “shuttle-diplomacy trip” to help bridge the gaps and “rebuild peace.”
“Through its own way, China has been working actively for deescalation,” Beijing’s foreign ministry said in a statement late Wednesday.
Foreign ministers from ASEAN regional bloc nations are due to meet on Monday in Malaysia for emergency talks aimed at finding a diplomatic solution.
“Our duty is to present the facts but more important is to press upon them that it is imperative for them to secure peace,” Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim told journalists late Wednesday.
“We are appealing to them to immediately stop this frontline offensive and if possible, an immediate ceasefire,” Anwar said at his official residence in Putrajaya, adding that he was “cautiously optimistic” about the talks.
European Commission vice president Kaja Kallas said in a statement that she had spoken with the foreign ministers of Cambodia and Thailand on Wednesday, offering the European Union’s support for ceasefire monitoring with satellite imagery.
“The conflict between Thailand and Cambodia must not be allowed to spiral further. That’s why the ceasefire needs to be immediately restored,” Kallas said.
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