Sacred Corruption: The Unqualified and The Unscrupulous

If the constant barrage of reports on corruption in the public sector has left you feeling jaded, here's a story to reinvigorate your interest. It's not your garden-variety corruption, however, although it does involve bureaucratic misconduct typical of government institutions, and the manner in which it is committed is not all that different either. Where it stands apart is in its exploitation of something that extends beyond the financial or political realms: people's faith. We're talking about corruption in hajj management in Bangladesh, which came to the limelight following the publication of two reports by The Daily Star recently.

The first report, published on May 31, sheds light on a decision by the religious affairs ministry to send grossly unqualified individuals to assist Bangladeshi pilgrims during this year's hajj in Saudi Arabia. A background check has revealed that out of the 218 individuals selected to join Bangladeshi medical and technical teams there, a staggering 200 have neither a medical background nor technical training. What service can they possibly provide, then? The composition of another delegation being sent to assist a "hajj administrative team" is equally suspect, as 23 out of its 31 members also do not have the background required. Instead of qualified professionals, these delegations are filled with the likes of office assistants, personal assistants, administrative staff, and even cooks, cleaners, and typists. Top-level government officials, lawmakers, and ruling party high-ups are also on the list.

It is quite clear that most of those chosen by the ministry are entirely unfit for their designated responsibilities, which involve providing healthcare assistance to patients, supporting pilgrims on site, locating missing ones, etc. Their selection seems to have little relevance to the stated purpose of their travel, and testimonies from past pilgrims reveal the negligence and self-interest exhibited by members of such delegations, many among them more preoccupied with their own rituals.

There are allegations of money changing hands for a place on these teams. This perhaps can explain this aberration. If money cannot secure entry, power and nepotism certainly can. The inclusion of high-profile individuals has thus become something of a norm over the years – an added drain on the nation's scant resources. Last year, at least 150 out of the 254 pilgrims selected for a subsidised hajj programme of the government were also found to be ruling party leaders, their family members, and political allies. The question is: why should the public have to pay for their hajj?

The second report, published on May 12, revealed an equally disturbing development at Biman, one of the three airlines carrying hajjis from Bangladesh. The state-owned Biman is apparently allowing 100 of its officials to go to Saudi Arabia under the guise of assisting pilgrims, with about Tk 8-10 crore to be spent for their 37-day stay there. Officials selected for the trip come from various departments: 33 from customer service, eight from engineering and material management, 28 from sales and marketing, two from administration, and so on. The question is whether such an elaborate and costly arrangement is at all necessary when Biman already has multiple offices in Saudi Arabia to do its bidding. Apparently, its staff see this as an "excursion", and a money-making opportunity. A Biman official going to Saudi Arabia will get a daily allowance of $220-$225 (around Tk 24,000), in addition to other facilities.

The picture that emerges from the above reports is quite unsettling. It shows how the two most vital institutions involved in hajj management – the religious affairs ministry and Biman – have become a meeting point for the unqualified and the unscrupulous, enabling corruption, favouritism, and political power play. In addition to the suffering being caused as a result, hajj is also becoming increasingly expensive thanks to inflated bills and the lack of accountability surrounding hajj-related decisions. This year's hajj package, for example, is said to be the most expensive in Bangladesh's history, reaching nearly Tk 7 lakh (the total cost may exceed Tk 8 lakh), which is twice as costly as those in India and Pakistan. A major contributor to this is the unusually high airfare set by Biman – Tk 1.98 lakh, an increase of about Tk 60,000 from last year.

This state of affairs is hard to accept. After all, hajj is a spiritual undertaking for the believers. When corruption is allowed to mar this experience, it impacts their spiritual well-being, too. It is an affront to the teachings and principles associated with hajj, a betrayal of the trust placed in those responsible for facilitating hajj journeys, and a flagrant disregard for the genuine needs of hajjis. Such corruption also tarnishes the image of Bangladesh abroad. And for a government with a proven interest in tapping religious sentiments in a Muslim-majority country, it sends a contradictory message.

Corruption, we must admit, is not the only story coming out of this year's hajj programme. Since the hajj journeys officially kicked off on May 21, there has been a festive environment at the Hajj Camp and Dhaka airport. Various services are being offered by government and non-government organisations to help hajjis prepare for the arduous journey they are about to embark on. Since the launch of the Route to Makkah service last year, air travel has been easier. A total of 1,22,221 individuals are set to perform hajj this year, and 47,181 of them already flew out of Bangladesh in the first 14 days. But corruption has a way of overshadowing all other aspects of an event, more so when said event is a sacred one.

This cannot be how our hajj stories are written, with the unqualified and the unscrupulous hogging the limelight. Given the sensitivity of the tasks involved, it is imperative that those in charge remain above board at all times. The authorities must address all the allegations of anomalies and impropriety reported by the media, and establish an accountable system that prioritises the welfare of pilgrims. They should also re-evaluate the selection criteria for travelling teams, so that only qualified and dedicated assistants are engaged.

Badiuzzaman Bay is an assistant editor at The Daily Star.