The Bangladesh government has issued directives for the country’s Hajj pilgrims, making vaccinations mandatory for them, reported The Dhaka Tribune. Around 60,000 people have registered for Hajj this year, and authorities plan to vaccinate them from this month.

Issuing a notice on Tuesday, Bangladesh’s Ministry of Religious Affairs said the decision to make vaccine mandatory has been taken in accordance with the guidelines issued by Saudi health authorities.

In a press release, the ministry said 4,833 hajj aspirants –aged between 18 and 40 –and 55,873 – aged over 40 – will have to take the first shot of COVID-19 vaccine within March and second shot by May.

The director-general of the Directorate of Health Services in Bangladesh said the ministry is taking all necessary steps to facilitate the pilgrims. Last year, more than 130,000 people had registered for Hajj; however, only a handful of them was able to go there.

Earlier, in 2020, the Saudi government halted the Hajj pilgrimage  from around the world in the wake of the COVID-19. Only 1000 people living inside Saudi Arabia were allowed to perform Hajj after the worldwide lockdown in March.