The Nusuk card—the primary digital and physical ID required for entry into Makkah, Madinah, and the holy sites (Mina, Arafat, Muzdalifa) during Hajj—has been officially inaugurated. From this year, the Saudi government has made the card mandatory for all pilgrims. As part of this initiative, the Government of Bangladesh has, for the first time, enabled Bangladeshi pilgrims to receive the card while still in the country.
The formal inauguration of the programme was held on May 13, Monday afternoon at the Recreation Hall (7th floor) of FARS Hotel & Resorts in Purana Paltan, Dhaka. The event was inaugurated by State Minister for Civil Aviation and Tourism M Rashiduzzaman Millat. The program was chaired by Engineer Obaidul Haque, proprietor of Amin Tours and Travels. Special guests included the Prime Minister’s Adviser and Spokesperson Dr. Mahdi Amin, Hajj Monitoring Committee member M. D. Shamim Kaiser Lincoln MP, Additional Secretary of the Ministry of Religious Affairs Dr. Ayatul Islam, Joint Secretary Dr. Manjurul Haque, and Hajj Agencies Association of Bangladesh (HAAB) Secretary General Farid Ahmed Mazumder, among others.
Distinguished guests present at the event included Senior Vice President of Rawaf Mina Ehsan Kateb and Head of Rawaf Mina Service Center Luai Faisal Abdullah Khan. HAB Vice President Shamim Saeedi and other esteemed guests were also in attendance.
Under the initiative of Amin Travels and Tours, one of the country’s leading private agencies, and with the support of Saudi Arabia’s Rawaf Mina agency, Nusuk cards are being distributed among pilgrims from 14 agencies.
In his speech as the chief guest, State Minister for Civil Aviation and Tourism M Rashiduzzaman Millat said the government is making highest efforts to ensure smooth Hajj management. He noted that the Prime Minister held a two-and-a-half-hour meeting on Monday with the Hajj management committee and issued various directives. It was decided that if Hajj agencies fail to provide proper services to pilgrims, their licenses will be cancelled. Similarly, 35 officials and staff members have been deployed by the aviation ministry to serve pilgrims, and any failure in duty will result in dismissal.
He further stated that, for the first time under the new government, pilgrims are receiving the Nusuk card in the country itself, describing it as a significant advancement. The government will take all necessary measures to ensure that Hajj management becomes more modern and efficient in the future.
Prime Minister’s Adviser Dr. Mahdi Amin said this is the first initiative of its kind in the country and marks an important milestone in modernizing Hajj management. He added that the government is committed to making Hajj services more modern, orderly, and pilgrim-friendly, while upholding the religious values of the people. Efforts will also be made to reduce Hajj costs so that this mandatory religious obligation can be performed smoothly by all.
Member of Parliament Shamim Kaiser said the current government had very limited time for Hajj preparations. However, under the dynamic leadership of Prime Minister Tarique Rahman, a well-organized Hajj is expected this year. He added that pilgrims will be able to receive services from Hajj mission offices displaying the red-green flag in Saudi Arabia. He emphasized that the Nusuk card is a very important identification document, and losing it can put pilgrims in difficulty. Therefore, providing the card before departure is crucial.
HAAB Secretary General Farid Ahmed Mazumder said that the Nusuk card is really very important, as pilgrims cannot enter the Haram Sharif without it. In its absence, pilgrims may even face treatment similar to illegal labourers and could be detained. He praised the government’s initiative to distribute the card in the country. However, he cautioned that early distribution carries risks, as pilgrims may leave the card behind or lose it, and a second card cannot be issued. He therefore suggested distributing the card onboard aircraft prior to departure.
DBTech/MSR/MUIIM/OR
