Hajj Registration: Govt extends deadline till April 23

                      Bangladesh Pilgrims Aboard Airline

The government of Bangladesh yesterday extended the deadline for registration for this year's hajj until 5:00pm of April 23 amid demands by the private hajj agencies.

Religious Affairs Minister Motiur Rahman announced the decision after meeting leaders of Hajj Agencies Association of Bangladesh (Haab) at his residence in the afternoon.

To press home the demand for an extension, Haab suspended registering pilgrims in the morning. Its leaders said each registration took longer due to slow response of the server.

Coming out of the meeting with the minister, Haab President Ibrahim Bahar told The Daily Star that they are satisfied with the government decision. Registration for hajj resumed soon afterwards.

The religious affairs ministry published a gazette last month setting the deadline for registration of pilgrims on April 17.

This year, a total of 1,17,758 people would perform hajj through private agencies.

 Daily Star