900 pilgrims to miss out on Hajj

Around 900 people may miss out on performing Hajj this year due to several reasons such as illness, inability to arrange money, and floods.

Meanwhile, Biman Bangladesh and Saudi Arabia Airlines have applied for 18 extra slots to operate flights carrying Bangladeshi pilgrims.

Of the extra slots, the Saudi civil aviation authorities have allocated six slots for Saudi Arabia Airlines, whereas Biman was yet to get the 12 extra slots till filing of this report at 7 pm.

The Saudi Civil Aviation authority is yet to respond the Biman’s application for 12 extra slots, Shakil Miraj, Biman general manager, said. “We are hopeful to get the extra slots,” he added.

“Now we are planning as to which of the Hajj agency’s pilgrims will fly in these extra slots. All the Bangladeshi pilgrims will able to fly to perform Hajj, inshallah,” Syful Islam, Hajj officer of Ashkona Hajj office, told The Independent yesterday.

Asked about the summons to some Hajj agencies regarding irregularities in sending pilgrims to Saudi Arabia, Syful replied: “We don’t summon anybody, but we have questioned some 20 agencies based on complaints filed with the Hajj office.”

Normally, some Hajj pilgrims drop out every year for various reasons, he said, adding that about 900 may do so this year.

Around 1,01,000 out of a total of 1,27,198 pilgrims from Bangladesh have already reached Jeddah, he informed.

“We have already sent messages to all the agency owners to collect their tickets from the Biman office. There will be no problem to get tickets,” secretary general of Hajj Agencies Association of Bangladesh (HAAB) Shahadat Hossain Taslim said.

On the alleged irregularities by some agency owners, the HAAB leader said, “One or two agency owners may have been involved in irregularities. Stern action would be taken against them if the allegations are proved to be true.”

900 pilgrims to miss out on Hajj

Around 900 people may miss out on performing Hajj this year due to several reasons such as illness, inability to arrange money, and floods. Meanwhile, Biman Bangladesh and Saudi Arabia Airlines have applied for 18 extra slots to operate flights carrying Bangladeshi pilgrims. Of the extra slots, the Saudi civil aviation authorities have allocated six slots for Saudi Arabia Airlines, whereas Biman was yet to get the 12 extra slots till filing of this report at 7 pm. The Saudi Civil Aviation authority is yet to respond the Bimans application for 12 extra slots, Shakil Miraj, Biman general manager, said. We are hopeful to get the extra slots, he added. Now we are planning as to which of the Hajj agencys pilgrims will fly in these extra slots. All the Bangladeshi pilgrims will able to fly to perform Hajj, inshallah, Syful Islam, Hajj officer of Ashkona Hajj office, told The Independent yesterday. Asked about the summons to some Hajj agencies regarding irregularities in sending pilgrims to Saudi Arabia, Syful replied: We dont summon anybody, but we have questioned some 20 agencies based on complaints filed with the Hajj office. Normally, some Hajj pilgrims drop out every year for various reasons, he said, adding that about 900 may do so this year. Around 1,01,000 out of a total of 1,27,198 pilgrims from Bangladesh have already reached Jeddah, he informed. We have already sent messages to all the agency owners to collect their tickets from the Biman office. There will be no problem to get tickets, secretary general of Hajj Agencies Association of Bangladesh (HAAB) Shahadat Hossain Taslim said. On the alleged irregularities by some agency owners, the HAAB leader said, One or two agency owners may have been involved in irregularities. Stern action would be taken against them if the allegations are proved to be true.