95 Hajj agencies punished for human trafficking

The government has finally cracked down on 95 hajj and umrah agencies, out of 104, including those of HAAB and ATAB leaders, for their involvement in human trafficking in the guise of sending people for performing umrah this year.
The licences of 69 hajj and umrah agencies were cancelled and deposits confiscated. The other agencies were fined and had their deposits seized.
The ministry of religious affairs has taken the decision to punish the hajj and umrah agencies according to the list of the Saudi Arabian government and recommendation of the probe committee that the ministry formed in September.
Religious affairs minister Matiur Rahman yesterday (Wednesday) disclosed this at a press conference in the ministry's conference room.
The licences of agencies of Hajj Agencies Association of Bangladesh (HAAB) president Ibrahim Bahar (Megatop Travels International), secretary general Shaikh Md Abdullah (Shanjari Travels and Tours), senior vice-president Mohammad Helal (Muna Travels and Tours), vice-president Farid Ahmed Majumder (Golden Bengal Tours and Travels) and Association of Travel Agencies of Bangladesh (ATAB) president Monjur Mahbub Morshed (Sureswar Travels) were cancelled. The owners were also fined various sums of money and their deposits were seized.
The Saudi government had imposed a ban on issuing umrah visas for Bangladeshi pilgrims in March this year,  bringing allegations of human trafficking against the hajj and umrah agencies.
The Saudi authorities asked Bangladesh to take punitive measures against the agencies for withdrawal of the ban. But the ministry’s secretary, Chowdhury Babul Hasan, tried to save HAAB leaders close to him.
The media, including The Independent, published several reports on the issue. Taking the reports into consideration, religious affairs minister Matiur Rahman formed a probe committee headed by the ministry’s additional secretary Kaji Shahiduzzaman in September. The probe body submitted its report on November 11.
The minister has taken action based on the report.
Around 11,485 pilgrims of 104 Bangladeshi hajj and umrah agencies did not return to Bangladesh after performing umrah this year. The Saudi authorities have already cancelled licences of seven of their agencies relevant to the Bangladeshi hajj and umrah agencies.
The number-wise break-up of pilgrims who did not return are: 67 of HAAB president Ibrahim Bahar’s Megatop Travel; 65 of general secretary Sheikh Md. Abdullah's Shanjari Travel; 218 of senior vice president Helal Uddin's Muna Travels and Tours; 451 of vice-president Farid Ahmed Majumder's Golden Bengal Travels and Tours; 243 of vice-president Aftab Ahmed Chowdhury's Aftab Travels and Tours; 508 of EC member Abdul Matin's Maruf Travels; 94 of treasurer Mozammel Hossain Kamal's Hashim Overseas; 94 of EC member Khadem Dulal's Khadem Air Service; 78 of HAAB Election Commission member Pear Mohammad's Royal Air Service; 245 of leader Farid Ahmed's United Air Travel; 205 of HAAB Chittagong president Abul Kashem's Royal Air Service; 240 of Chittagong leader Abdul Khaleq's Three Star Travel; 237 of EC member Abu Bakar Siddik's Al-Noor Travel Agent; 219 of Chittagong EC member Abu Taher's Eastern Travel; 215 of leader Amanullah's Fly Home Travel; 118 of Sylhet zonal general secretary Abdul Haque's City Overseas; 106 of Chittagong EC member Md Ilias's Golden Bengal Tours and Travel; 76 of HAAB leader Mahbub Mannan's Times Aviation; 75 of EC member Md Zakaria; 63 of EC member Fajlur Rahman's Madina Air Travel and 57 of EC member Khaled Iqbal's Meridian Air.
Seventy-four pilgrims of ATAB president Mahbub Morshed's Sureswar Travel, 314 of ATAB's Chittagong zonal committee chairman Abu Zafar's Concord International, 141 of general secretary Shah Alam's Gulf Travel, 58 of EC member Kazi Sumon's Sharif Air and 47 of EC member Nurul Amin's Jubilee Air are yet to return.

 

95 Hajj agencies punished for human trafficking

The government has finally cracked down on 95 hajj and umrah agencies, out of 104, including those of HAAB and ATAB leaders, for their involvement in human trafficking in the guise of sending people for performing umrah this year. The licences of 69 hajj and umrah agencies were cancelled and deposits confiscated. The other agencies were fined and had their deposits seized. The ministry of religious affairs has taken the decision to punish the hajj and umrah agencies according to the list of the Saudi Arabian government and recommendation of the probe committee that the ministry formed in September. Religious affairs minister Matiur Rahman yesterday (Wednesday) disclosed this at a press conference in the ministrys conference room. The licences of agencies of Hajj Agencies Association of Bangladesh (HAAB) president Ibrahim Bahar (Megatop Travels International), secretary general Shaikh Md Abdullah (Shanjari Travels and Tours), senior vice-president Mohammad Helal (Muna Travels and Tours), vice-president Farid Ahmed Majumder (Golden Bengal Tours and Travels) and Association of Travel Agencies of Bangladesh (ATAB) president Monjur Mahbub Morshed (Sureswar Travels) were cancelled. The owners were also fined various sums of money and their deposits were seized. The Saudi government had imposed a ban on issuing umrah visas for Bangladeshi pilgrims in March this year, bringing allegations of human trafficking against the hajj and umrah agencies. The Saudi authorities asked Bangladesh to take punitive measures against the agencies for withdrawal of the ban. But the ministrys secretary, Chowdhury Babul Hasan, tried to save HAAB leaders close to him. The media, including The Independent, published several reports on the issue. Taking the reports into consideration, religious affairs minister Matiur Rahman formed a probe committee headed by the ministrys additional secretary Kaji Shahiduzzaman in September. The probe body submitted its report on November 11. The minister has taken action based on the report. Around 11,485 pilgrims of 104 Bangladeshi hajj and umrah agencies did not return to Bangladesh after performing umrah this year. The Saudi authorities have already cancelled licences of seven of their agencies relevant to the Bangladeshi hajj and umrah agencies. The number-wise break-up of pilgrims who did not return are: 67 of HAAB president Ibrahim Bahars Megatop Travel; 65 of general secretary Sheikh Md. Abdullahs Shanjari Travel; 218 of senior vice president Helal Uddins Muna Travels and Tours; 451 of vice-president Farid Ahmed Majumders Golden Bengal Travels and Tours; 243 of vice-president Aftab Ahmed Chowdhurys Aftab Travels and Tours; 508 of EC member Abdul Matins Maruf Travels; 94 of treasurer Mozammel Hossain Kamals Hashim Overseas; 94 of EC member Khadem Dulals Khadem Air Service; 78 of HAAB Election Commission member Pear Mohammads Royal Air Service; 245 of leader Farid Ahmeds United Air Travel; 205 of HAAB Chittagong president Abul Kashems Royal Air Service; 240 of Chittagong leader Abdul Khaleqs Three Star Travel; 237 of EC member Abu Bakar Siddiks Al-Noor Travel Agent; 219 of Chittagong EC member Abu Tahers Eastern Travel; 215 of leader Amanullahs Fly Home Travel; 118 of Sylhet zonal general secretary Abdul Haques City Overseas; 106 of Chittagong EC member Md Iliass Golden Bengal Tours and Travel; 76 of HAAB leader Mahbub Mannans Times Aviation; 75 of EC member Md Zakaria; 63 of EC member Fajlur Rahmans Madina Air Travel and 57 of EC member Khaled Iqbals Meridian Air. Seventy-four pilgrims of ATAB president Mahbub Morsheds Sureswar Travel, 314 of ATABs Chittagong zonal committee chairman Abu Zafars Concord International, 141 of general secretary Shah Alams Gulf Travel, 58 of EC member Kazi Sumons Sharif Air and 47 of EC member Nurul Amins Jubilee Air are yet to return.