Migrants in KSA: They can take families for 3-month visits

From now on Bangladeshi citizens with transit visa will be able to stay four days in Saudi Arabia and perform umrah and migrants living there would be able to take their families to the kingdom for three months' stay.

The decisions were made during Saudi Arabia's Minister of Hajj and Umrah Affairs Tawfiq bin Fawzan Ar-Rabiah's meeting with State Minister for Religious Affairs Faridul Haque Khan at the Secretariat yesterday.

Tawfiq Al-Rabiah arrived in Bangladesh on Tuesday night on a three-day visit.

"Passengers will avail this [umrah on transit visa] benefit only if they use Saudi carriers, Saudia and Flynas. The transit visa will be valid for four days," Faridul said.

Meanwhile, the validity of Umrah visas have been extended from one month to three months.

Bangladeshis can also travel inside the country with this visa, Faridul added.

The state minister also said discussions were held on increasing the Hajj quota and reducing the Hajj costs for Bangladeshis.

Faridul said the Saudi authorities accepted what they have asked for about traveling to and from Saudi Arabia, reducing the cost of Hajj, and overall cooperation.

"Such a discussion had not been held before. We could not have imagined that today we will have such a fruitful discussion," he added.