Names of 10,000 fake pilgrims registered
Ministry blames Hajj agencies
STAFF REPORTER
The Hajj agencies of the country have registered the names of around 10,000 fake pilgrims this year to earn extra money by using false national identity (NID) cards and passports or the names of those pilgrims who had performed Hajj earlier, said sources in the religious affairs ministry.
As a result, a huge number of Hajj agencies have failed to ensure air tickets for their pilgrims nine days after beginning of the Hajj flights, which carried pilgrims to Saudi Arabia for performing Hajj this year, claimed ministry officials.
In such a situation, the government has already allowed the agencies to replace 8 per cent of their registered pilgrims with those who have registered for performing Hajj in 2019.
However, the agencies want at least 15 per cent replacement facilities. Otherwise, the quota of more than 5,000 pilgrims out of Bangladeshs quota of 1,27,198 will remain empty this year, they apprehend.
The secretary of the religious affairs ministry, Anisur Rahman, told this correspondent that the government has already given its highest quota for the replacement of the pilgrims. The agencies were asked to submit applications with the lists of those pilgrims who will be replaced and those whose names will be replaced, he added.
The applications will be received till July 24 this year. The authorities will later issue a replacement order after properly examining the names. If any fault is found there, the authorities will take necessary and legal action against the agencies, including cancellation of their licences, the religious affairs secretary said in reply to a query. He also claimed that they have received information about the fake registration of pilgrims. The ministry is looking into the issue, Rahman added.
Bangladesh Pilgrims and Hajji Welfare Council president Dr Abdullah Al Naser told this correspondent that private pilgrims have to register their names at least one year prior to the pilgrimage. In a year, some of the pilgrims may lose their eligibility to perform Hajj, according to Islamic rules. Some of them may lose their capacity to perform Hajj due to sickness, death or other problems, he said.
The agencies and pilgrims want replacement facilities for at least 15 per cent pilgrims as the quota can be filled up. Otherwise, the government will be unable to fill up the quota allocated for Bangladesh. As a result, the Hajj agents who registered their pilgrims after paying all fees will be the losers financially, he added.
He also conceded the issue of registration of false persons with false NIDs and passports, saying that the Hajj agencies need to fill up the quota of 150 pilgrims during registration. As the government has given them the opportunity to register private pilgrims by paying only Tk. 1.38 lakh, a section of Hajj agents are doing this to take advantage of replacement facilities, he added.
If the government takes the entire Hajj package fees during the registration, such false registrations would be stopped, he said.
Hajj Agencies Association of Bangladesh (HAAB) secretary-general Shahadat Hossain Taslim told this correspondent that the Hajj agencies of the country usually get the chance to replace pilgrims every year. We have requested the government to increase it to 15 per cent to fill up the empty seats of pilgrims, he added.
