Around 2,000 Hajj pilgrims, despite getting visas, are most likely to miss performing Hajj this year, as they are yet to get flight tickets due to the negligence of some corrupt Hajj agencies, source has alleged. Meanwhile, the Hajj Office yesterday issued a circular to ensure air tickets for all visa holders immediately and said failure to do so will result for agencies concerned in facing criminal cases and actions that include cancellation of their licenses.
However, the secretary of the religious affairs ministry, Abdul Jalil, has said that the Saudi Arabian Civil Aviation Authority has allocated eight extra slots for Bangladesh Biman Airlines to carry Bangladeshi pilgrims.
Meanwhile, Hajj passengers held a demonstration at the Ashkona Hajj Camp, demanding immediate flights for them to Saudi Arabia.
The stranded Hajj passengers demanded the prime minister’s intervention and action against Medina Air International Ltd for fraudulence. It has been alleged that some Hajj agency owners are yet to buy tickets for those willing to perform Hajj although they posses visas.
Biman Bangladesh Airlines will complete its flying operations for this year, carrying Hajj passengers, with its last Hajj flight taking off at 12 o’clock in the night.
These pilgrims are facing flight problems thanks to the negligence on the part of some Hajj agencies, it has been alleged.
Meanwhile, Saudi authorities yesterday granted eight extra slots to Biman Bangladesh Airlines to operate Hajj flights till August 28 after the Bangladesh flag carrier applied to the Saudi Arabian Civil Aviation Authority for seven extra slots.
“Our last Hajj flight operation will end tonight, taking off at 12 o’clock, as per the schedule earlier. We have already carried 60,742 pilgrims out of 63,599 passengers till 10am on Saturday,” Shakil Miraj, general manager of Biman Bangladesh Airlines, told this correspondent earlier in yesterday.
Biman will carry another 1,959 pilgrims on five Hajj flights by midnight on Saturday, he added.
“We have got approval for eight extra slots from the Saudi authorities to operate flights carrying Hajj passengers for August 27-28,” Miraj said in reply to a query.
All ticket-holders will be able to perform Hajj this year, religious affairs secretary Abdul Jalil told The Independent yesterday.
“We have already got eight extra slots from the Saudi authority to operate Biman flights for Bangladeshi pilgrims. Though Biman will end its last flight operation tonight, as per the previous schedule, it will nevertheless continue its flight operations till August 28 following getting the extra slots,” the religious secretary claimed.
Both Biman and Saudi Arabia Airlines will operate more 20 flights till August 28, he added.
Jalil said Biman will operate its last flight on August 28 at 7am.
“The Biman authorities received extra slots from Saudi Arabia. There will be no problem now,” Hajj Agencies Association of Bangladesh (HAAB) secretary-general Shahadat Hossain Taslim told this correspondent.
An emergency press conference will be held on Sunday at Ashokona Hajj camp to brief journalists with regard to Hajj management, he added.
Meanwhile, a total of 55,631 of 63,599 Bangladeshi pilgrims reached Jeddah by Saudi Arabia Airlines till 10am on Friday.
According to sources, Saudi Arabia Airlines would not be able to carry around 2,000 passengers despite operating Hajj flights till August 28.
So, around 2,000 pilgrims are most likely to miss the Hajj this year due to ticket problem, the source said.
A total of 1,16,373 out of 1,27,198 pilgrims have already reached Jeddah to perform Hajj from Bangladesh.
The government has threatened to cancel the licences of Hajj agencies, confiscate the money deposited with them, and file criminal cases against them if the agencies concerned fail to send their visa holders to perform Hajj this year.
The warning was given yesterday (Saturday) in a circular issued by Syful Islam, director of the Ashkona Hajj Office.
He also directed the agency owners to ensure that those pilgrims who are yet to get tickets despite receiving visas are sent immediately to Saudi Arabia.
“If any agency fails to send their visa holders to Saudi Arabia, stern action would be taken against them. Their money would be confiscated and their agency licenses cancelled. Besides, criminal cases will be filed against them,” the circular warned.