Licences of 4 Hajj-Umrah agencies cancelled for human trafficking
The government has cancelled the licences of four Hajj and Umrah agencies for their alleged involvement in human trafficking in the name of Umrah. The religious affairs ministry has taken punitive measures against the agencies in response to cases filed against them with Patenga model police station in Chittagong. These agencies are: Saudi Bangla Air Service Ltd of Motijheel, Top One Aviation of Naya Paltan, Summit Air International, and Paramount Travels and Tours of the Naya Paltan area. The deposits of these agencies have also been confiscated due to their alleged involvement in trafficking, according to a ministry order issued on Thursday.
The order, signed by the ministrys senior assistant secretary (Hajj-1) Md. Abul Hasan, says that the licences of these agencies have been cancelled due to their alleged involvement in human trafficking in the 2017 Umrah season. The punitive measures have been taken under Section 23.2 of the National Hajj and Umrah Policy. Cancelling their licences isnt adequate. The government must bring the culprits to justice by filing criminal cases against the agency owners, the secretary general of the Hajj Agencies Association of Bangladesh (HAAB) Shaikh Md Abdullah told The Independent yesterday. He requested the government to identify all agencies involved in human trafficking and promised full cooperation of the HAAB in this regard. He further said that such agencies are tarnishing the image of Bangladesh in the international community.
