The religious affairs ministry yesterday issued a “red notice” for four hajj agencies for their failure to submit visa applications of around 800 pilgrims.

The agencies were given a one-day ultimatum to complete visa processing of all the pilgrims being dealt by them, Shahadat Hossain Taslim, secretary general of Hajj Agencies Association of Bangladesh, told The Daily Star.

The notice was issued as the deadline for all hajj agencies to submit visa papers for their clients ended yesterday.

Meanwhile, Biman Bangladesh Airlines was forced to cancel two more hajj flights yesterday due to shortage of passengers. Together, those can carry over 800 passengers at a time, Biman General Manager (Public Relations) Shakil Meraj said.

With the two flights, the national flag carrier has so far cancelled 21 hajj flights, casting doubt on the hajj of over 5,000 Bangladeshis, say officials concerned.  

Talking to this correspondent at the Ashkona Hajj Camp in the capital, several pilgrims expressed anxiety about making the pilgrimage due to frequent cancellation of hajj flights.

“Our hajj guide took us to the hajj camp on Wednesday night and told us that our flight was today [yesterday]. In the morning, we, however, came to know that our flight has been cancelled,” said Monira Khatun, who is expecting to perform hajj with her husband.

“I don't know whether we will be able to perform hajj this year,” Sabbir Azim, another hajj aspirant, said.

Contacted last night, Civil Aviation Minister Rashed Khan Menon said Biman was planning for some “emergency measures” in case the situation continued to deteriorate.

 Asked about the measures, he said Biman might apply to the Saudi Arabian civil aviation authority for permission for operating extra hajj flights.

On request, the airlines has recently got permission to run 14 such flights.

If necessary, Menon said, Biman would operate less number of flights on other routes to facilitate operating more hajj flights.

Currently, six Boeing aircraft are dedicated to carrying pilgrims to Saudi Arabia, said Biman General Manager (Public Relations) Shakil Meraj.

He also said another Boeing would be brought on lease from Malaysia within August 15.

As of yesterday morning, a total of 52,483 pilgrims were sent to Saudi Arabia by flights of Biman and Saudi Arabian Airlines, he added.

'SOME HAJJ AGENIES TO BLAME'

Religious Affairs Minister Motiur Rahman yesterday came down on a section of hajj agencies, blaming it for the cancellation of hajj flights.

Addressing a programme in the capital, he said Biman had to cancel the flights as the agencies did not send pilgrims on time.

He alleged the agencies try to send the pilgrims at the last moment to make money. The agencies think they would have to spend less for food and accommodation for the hajis if they were sent late, he added.

PILGRIMS “CHEATED”

Hajj of 32 pilgrims from Ghoraghat upazila of Dinajpur has become uncertain as their agent allegedly went into hiding with their money on August 6, reports our correspondent in the district.

On behalf of the 32, Jahangir Alam Badsha, of Krishnapur village, filed a complaint with Ghoraghat Upazila Nirbahi Officer on August 8.

UNO TMA Momin asked police to take necessary actions in this regard.

Jahangir said the 32 pilgrims paid Tk 80 lakh as hajj package cost to the travel agency in Raniganj Bazaar area. The office, however, has been closed since August 6. Its signboard was removed and the owner's mobile phone was switched off, he said.

Israfil Hossain, officer-in-charge of Ghorghat Police Station, said they were investigating the matter.