Action on agencies for trouble over hajj: Minister

Religious Affairs Minister Principal Motiur Rahman today said legal action will be taken against the hajj agencies responsible for visa complexities of hajj pilgrims, leading to flight cancellation and other problems.

According to a UNB report, Minister Motiur said, “The hajj flights were cancelled due to delay in the activities of hajj agencies. Legal actions, including cancellation of license, will be taken against those agencies".

"The hajj pilgrims, who failed to go to Saudi Arabia following cancellation of scheduled flight, can go there for performing hajj. There will be no problem. Though we have requested the Saudi government to provide additional 20 flights for carrying pilgrims," he said while briefing reporters at the ministry.

"The decision of Saudi government to impose extra 2000 Saudi Riyal for performing hajj for the second time suddenly is not right. We are contacting with the authorities concerned of Saudi Arabia to resolve the issue. If the Saudi government doesn't withdraw their decision in this regard then the hajj pilgrims will have to pay the money which will be a burden for them," he added.

Meanwhile, Director of Ashkona Hajj Camp Saiful Islam told The Daily Star that the religious affairs ministry has received the official gazette of the Saudi government about the additional payment of Tk 44,000 to repeat hajjis.

“We hope the ministry will be able to inform Bangladesh hajj agencies on this matter through a circular,” he said.

This year a total of 1,27,198 pilgrims -- 4,200 under government management and 1,22,998 under private management-- are scheduled to go to Saudi Arabia for performing hajj.