Fraudulence by Hajj agencies deprives 397 of pilgrimage
STAFF REPORTER
A total of 397 people failed to go to Saudi Arabia to perform Hajj this year due to fraudulence by some Hajj agencies. Rather than arranging travel documents for those willing to perform Hajj, the agency owners allegedly fled away with their money keeping their respective offices locked. Passengers have already filed complaints with the Ashkona Hajj office against 20 agency owners.
Meanwhile, Religious Affairs Minister Matiur Rahman, secretary Abdul Jalil, Hajj Officer Syful Islam and Secretary General of Hajj Agencies Association of Bangladesh (HAAB) Shahdat Hussain Taslim have already reached Jeddah to perform Hajj after the last Hajj flight departed for the Gulf country.
Contacted, Taslim said over phone, I am in Saudi Arabia now. I will perform Umrah here. I will talk to you later.
Civil Aviation and Tourism Minister Rashed Khan Menon yesterday said 1,27,103 people, including those falling under the religious affairs ministry quota, have already reached Jeddah to perform Hajj.
A total of 397 people wont get the opportunity to perform Hajj this year due to visa complications and other reasons, he said at a media briefing at the secretariat.
The minister said the last Hajj flight of Saudi Arabian Airlines left Dhaka at 8:15pm yesterday while the last flight of Biman Bangladesh Airlines left Dhaka early in the day.
This year, 4,200 people went to Saudi Arabia under governments management to perform Hajj while the number is 1,22,000 under private management, he said.
The licence of the agencies for which the 397 people failed to perform the Hajj will be cancelled and the owners will be fined, Menon said.
The last Hajj flight of Biman Bangladesh Airlines left Dhaka for Jeddah at 3:30am, while a Saudi Arabia Airlines took off at 10:30am yesterday.
