Most of accused Hajj agencies fail to show documents of pilgrims� return

52 agencies appear before probe body, remaining 52 to appear today

Most of the hajj agencies have failed to produce documents before the probe committee proving that the people they sent to Saudi Arabia to perform Hajj or Umrah have returned home.
The government last month constituted a five-member inter-ministerial probe committee headed by the Religious Affairs Ministry’s Additional Secretary, Mohammad Shahiduzzaman, to probe the allegations against 104 agencies that are suspected to be involved in human-trafficking racket under the guise of sending people to Saudi Arabia for Hajj or Umrah.
The probe committee summoned the owners of 52 hajj agencies on Tuesday, while the remaining owners have been summoned today for questioning regarding their involvement in the matter.
“Most of the agencies out of the 52 that were summoned on Tuesday have failed to produce documents to show that the people they sent for performing Hajj or Umrah have returned home from Saudi Arabia,” Mohammad Shahiduzzaman told The Independent yesterday. “The owners of remaining 52 agencies will be questioned today by the probe committee.”
In response to a query he said, “It’s a very complicated task. It would take some time to submit the report. We also have to consult the Saudi authorities before submitting the report.”
On the other hand, Sheikh Md Abdullah, Secretary General, Hajj Agencies Association of Bangladesh (HAAB), told The Independent, “At least 50 agencies have showed the relevant documents to the probe committee on Tuesday proving that people have returned from Saudi Arabia after performing Hajj or Umrah.” He claimed that only two agencies failed to show the necessary documents in this regard.
“I hope that the remaining 52 agencies will be able to produce the documents before the probe committee,” he added. When attention was drawn to the fact that the people who went to Saudi Arabia through his travel agency, Shanjori Travels, are suspected to be involved in human trafficking, he claimed his organisation doesn’t indulge in such practices. He also said that all relevant documents have been submitted to the committee.
The Saudi Arabian authorities handed over a list of 104 suspected travel agencies to the Bangladesh Embassy in Riyadh earlier this year. According to this list, 11,485 people, who went there to perform Hajj or Umrah through these agencies last year, haven’t returned to Bangladesh. The Independent is in possession of a copy of the list. The Saudi government also gave the list of suspected agencies to the State Minister for Foreign Affairs, Shahriar Alam, during his recent visit to that country to resolve the issue.
In March this year, the Saudi government imposed restriction on issuing Umrah visas to Bangladeshis. The Saudi government also warned that they would permanently stop issuing visas to Bangladeshi pilgrims if no action is taken against the suspected agencies, sources in the ministry added.

Most of accused Hajj agencies fail to show documents of pilgrims� return

52 agencies appear before probe body, remaining 52 to appear today

Most of the hajj agencies have failed to produce documents before the probe committee proving that the people they sent to Saudi Arabia to perform Hajj or Umrah have returned home. The government last month constituted a five-member inter-ministerial probe committee headed by the Religious Affairs Ministrys Additional Secretary, Mohammad Shahiduzzaman, to probe the allegations against 104 agencies that are suspected to be involved in human-trafficking racket under the guise of sending people to Saudi Arabia for Hajj or Umrah. The probe committee summoned the owners of 52 hajj agencies on Tuesday, while the remaining owners have been summoned today for questioning regarding their involvement in the matter. Most of the agencies out of the 52 that were summoned on Tuesday have failed to produce documents to show that the people they sent for performing Hajj or Umrah have returned home from Saudi Arabia, Mohammad Shahiduzzaman told The Independent yesterday. The owners of remaining 52 agencies will be questioned today by the probe committee. In response to a query he said, Its a very complicated task. It would take some time to submit the report. We also have to consult the Saudi authorities before submitting the report. On the other hand, Sheikh Md Abdullah, Secretary General, Hajj Agencies Association of Bangladesh (HAAB), told The Independent, At least 50 agencies have showed the relevant documents to the probe committee on Tuesday proving that people have returned from Saudi Arabia after performing Hajj or Umrah. He claimed that only two agencies failed to show the necessary documents in this regard. I hope that the remaining 52 agencies will be able to produce the documents before the probe committee, he added. When attention was drawn to the fact that the people who went to Saudi Arabia through his travel agency, Shanjori Travels, are suspected to be involved in human trafficking, he claimed his organisation doesnt indulge in such practices. He also said that all relevant documents have been submitted to the committee. The Saudi Arabian authorities handed over a list of 104 suspected travel agencies to the Bangladesh Embassy in Riyadh earlier this year. According to this list, 11,485 people, who went there to perform Hajj or Umrah through these agencies last year, havent returned to Bangladesh. The Independent is in possession of a copy of the list. The Saudi government also gave the list of suspected agencies to the State Minister for Foreign Affairs, Shahriar Alam, during his recent visit to that country to resolve the issue. In March this year, the Saudi government imposed restriction on issuing Umrah visas to Bangladeshis. The Saudi government also warned that they would permanently stop issuing visas to Bangladeshi pilgrims if no action is taken against the suspected agencies, sources in the ministry added.