The Ministry of Religious Affairs has requested all pilgrims to strictly refrain from carrying prohibited goods during their upcoming journey to Saudi Arabia.
In a cautionary statement issued on Friday, the ministry advised pilgrims against carrying unauthorised items, whether intended for personal use or carried at the instigation of Hajj agencies or third parties.
Under Saudi Arabian law, several items are strictly forbidden in pilgrim luggage, including narcotics, tobacco leaves, jadda, gul, betel leaves, dried fish, cooked food, and other perishable goods.
These restrictions are explicitly detailed in the Hajj Package and Guidelines 2026.
Religious Affairs Minister Kazi Shah Mofazzal Hossain Kaikobad noted that despite repeated warnings in previous years, banned items continue to be discovered in the luggage of Bangladeshi pilgrims at Saudi airports.
“Such incidents tarnish the image of our nation on the global stage,” the Minister stated, urging pilgrims to exercise extreme caution and personal responsibility.
Emphasising the legal consequences of non-compliance, Religious Affairs Secretary Munshi Alauddin Al-Azad warned that individuals face severe penal action under the prevailing laws of Saudi Arabia if prohibited items are found.
He further cautioned that such actions put the individual’s Hajj pilgrimage at significant risk and may even prevent them from performing their religious duties entirely.
The ministry reiterated that no prohibited products should be carried under any circumstances to ensure a smooth and respectful pilgrimage. This year, a total of 78,500 pilgrims from Bangladesh will perform Hajj, with travel to Saudi Arabia scheduled to begin on 18 April.
