Grameenphone Lets Bangladeshi Pilgrims Use Domestic Airtime for Saudi Roaming

Bangladeshi hajj pilgrims will no longer need to queue for Saudi SIM cards or juggle foreign currency: Grameenphone on Thursday unveiled the country’s first roaming bundles that can be activated entirely with domestic mobile credit.

Under the new scheme, travellers may purchase dedicated “Hajj roaming packs” before departure—or at any time during the pilgrimage—simply by using their regular Grameenphone balance or through standard Easy Recharge channels. The packs go live the moment a subscriber lands in Saudi Arabia, ensuring friction‑free voice and data connectivity with family at home.

“Our team is proud to pioneer this transformative step for Bangladeshi pilgrims,” said Grameenphone Chief Product Officer Solaiman Alam. “Working closely with the government, the regulator and partners, we have removed a major pain‑point so worshippers can stay seamlessly connected during this sacred journey.”

He added that the initiative would “enrich the overall hajj experience,” giving pilgrims instant access to essential information and peace of mind.

The breakthrough follows a temporary ruling by the Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission allowing mobile operators to offer domestic‑balance roaming for the 2025 hajj season, a facility industry players had requested for years.