The National Hajj Management Committee took the decision at a meeting yesterday with State Minister for Religious Affairs Mosharef Hossain Shahjahan in the chair.

The meeting decided to send a two-member high-level delegation to Saudi Arabia to arrange accommodation facilities for the Hajj pilgrims. Later, they will take final decision regarding houses and rent.

It also decided that separate rooms would be earmarked for women pilgrims in the same buildings, if possible.

Ten thousand ballotee and 40 thousand non-ballotee pilgrims will get a chance to perform Hajj in 2004.

Committee members Foreign Minister M Morshed Khan, Housing and Public Works Minister Mirza Abbas and PM's Political Secretary Mosaddek Ali attended the meeting.

State Minister for Foreign Affairs Reaz Rahman, Religious Affairs Secretary Syed Sajedul Karim and senior officials were also present.