Sheikh Hasina performs holy "Umrah"

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina performed the holy "Umrah" after she reached the holy city of Makkah overnight from Jeddah of Saudi Arabia.

"She performed the holy Umrah Friday night and offered special prayers at the Ka'aba Sharif," premier's press secretary Ihsanul Karim told newsmen.

He said the premier also offered prayers seeking divine blessings for the people of Bangladesh as well as continued peace, progress and prosperity of the entire Muslim Ummah.

In line with the Islamic rituals Sheikh Hasina performed 'tawaf' around the holy Ka'aba Sharif and walked and ran between Safa and Marwa. 

She later offered the prayers at the Ka'aba Mosque. 

Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman's youngest daughter Sheikh Rehana, Foreign Minister AH Mahmood Ali and other entourage members of the premier also performed "Umrah" along with her.

Earlier, the Premier arrived at the holy city of Makkah from Jeddah by road at about midnight on Friday. 

The Prime Minister is now in Saudi Arabia on a five-day official visit at the invitation of King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud.

After arrival at Jeddah's King Abdulaziz International Airport last night, Sheikh Hasina joined a banquet hosted in her honour by Saudi Crown Prince Mohammad bin Nayef bin Abdulaziz at King Faisal Palace.

Sheikh Rehana, Saudi Minister of Haj and Umrah Dr Mohammad Saleh bin Taher Benten, Islamic Development Bank (IDB) President Dr Ahmed Mohammed Ali Al-Madani, Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) Secretary General Iyad bin Amin Madani attended the banquet, among others.

Source: BSS.