Dhaka, April 30 -- In response to an appeal for a time extension, the Ministry of Hajj and Umrah of Saudi Arabia has granted an extension for applying for Hajj visas for Bangladeshi pilgrims till May 7, which was April 29.

M Shahadat Hossain Taslim, president of Hajj Agencies Association of Bangladesh (HAAB), said that the Saudi Arab government extended the time for Bangladeshi Hajis following the request of Religious Affairs Minister Md Faridul Haque Khan.

Ferdous Akhter, deputy secretary of the religious affairs ministry, told journalists that they have not received the official letter yet, according to media reports.

The inaugural Hajj flight departing from Dhaka to Saudi Arabia is set for May 9.

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina is sch...