The Saudi government has officially conveyed its decision to hold a ‘very limited’ Hajj this year due to the Covid-19 pandemic while Bangladesh finds the decision ‘wise’.
Prince Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud, Foreign Minister of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia told Bangladesh Foreign Minister Dr AK Abdul Momen that there would be no traditional Hajj this year due to coronavirus situation, a foreign ministry spokesperson said on Tuesday.
The Saudi foreign minister made a telephone call to Dr Momen on Monday to inform the decision of the Saudi Government.
Prince Faisal said that less than 1000 of Hajjis will be allowed to perform Hajj this year.
He further said that a small number of Hajjis from each Muslim country would be allowed to join the congregation, the foreign ministry said.
Bangladesh foreign minister termed the decision ‘wise’ and thanked the Saudi Prince for his call.
Meanwhile, Saudi Hajj Minister Muhammad Benten told a virtual press conference on Monday evening that “small and very limited” number of people already residing in the kingdom will be allowed to perform the pilgrimage to ensure social distancing and crowd control amid the virus outbreak globally, report agencies.
“The number, God willing, may be in the thousands. We are in the process of reviewing so it could be 1,000 or less, or a little more,” the minister added.
The press conference was also told that that no one over the age of 65 will be allowed to perform the hajj and that all pilgrims and those serving pilgrims this year will be quarantined both before and after the pilgrimage.
The hajj minister said that protecting the lives and health of pilgrims is the main priority of the Saudi government and they are working with experts at the Health Ministry to ensure this.
The ministry said the decision had been made “in light of continuation of the pandemic and the risks of Coronavirus spreading in crowded spaces and large gatherings.”
“This decision is taken to ensure Hajj is performed in a safe manner from a public health perspective while observing all preventative measures and the necessary social distancing protocols.”
Last year, more than 1.8 million pilgrims travelled to Saudi Arabia from abroad to take part and the total number of attendees was 2.5 million.
The Hajj ministry said this year the risk of transmitting the disease between countries and the increase in infections globally meant the risk was too high.
The Council of Senior Scholars said on Monday it supported what the Kingdom’s decision to limit the number of pilgrims in order to preserve their health and safety.
Since the inception of the modern Saudi Arabia in 1932, such limitation is imposed for the first time this year due to pandemic.
