Religion ministry gets ‘anti-religious’ tag in Parliament over Hajj flight irregularities

Two Chittagong MPs have launched a scathing attack against the religious affairs ministry because of irregularities in Hajj flight operations committed by private agencies. 

Parliament Correspondentbdnews24.com
Published : 7 July 2015, 02:38 PM
Updated : 7 July 2015, 02:38 PM

Jatiya Samajtantrik Dal (JaSaD) MP Moinuddin Khan Badal said in Parliament on Tuesday, “Although known as the religious ministry, it is involved in ‘anti-religious’ activities the most.”

He wondered if the ministry deserved a change of name.

Tariqat Federation MP Syed Nazibul Bashar also blamed government officials for the irregularities.

This year, for the first time, Hajj pilgrims have to register online.

As per the quota, Bangladesh can send a total of 101,758 pilgrims for Hajj pilgrimage this year.

But about 30,000 extra applications were submitted and almost 10,000 of them also deposited the fees.

MP Badal criticised a law ministry directive that makes payment of fees before registration mandatory.

He suspected many agencies had registered Rohingyas in the process.

He said Humaira Hall Travel Agency registered one ‘JF Das’ and one ‘Mobile’ as pilgrims.

“Saudi Arabia withdrew Umrah Hajj facilities for Bangladeshis due to these ‘anti-religious’ activities of the religious affairs ministry,” he said.

Badal alleged agencies of the relatives of the Hajj Agencies Association of Bangladesh’s (HAAB) president and several ministry officials registered many pilgrims after the deadline.

They made the interested pilgrims pay an extra Tk 15,000 to 20,000 for the registration, in violation of rules, he told Parliament.

Badal said the ministry’s Joint Secretary Hasan Jahangir Alam’s son was the owner of the Sobhanallah Hajj Agency, while his brother owned the Ibne Batuta Travel Agency.

He said the Islamic Foundation’s director general was also a partner in an agency.

Ashkona Hajj Camp’s administrative officials also ran such agencies.

Badal urged the government to take proper steps to root out irregularities.

Syed Nazibul Bashar Maizvandary also blamed the links government officials had with the Hajj agency business.

“Joint secretary-level officials of the religious affairs ministry run more than one Hajj agency under different names. This is the reason behind the problem.”

The member of the parliamentary standing committee of the religious ministry said, “A proposal has been tabled to form an enquiry committee.”

Saudi Arabia has suspended Umrah visa to Bangladeshis, alleging human trafficking in the name of Umrah.

Some six to seven thousand people did not return home after going for Umrah with the help of 56 Hajj agencies.

Bangladesh Hajj office in Jeddah recently sent a letter to the religious affairs ministry, demanding action against the travel agents.

Saudi Arabia has told Bangladesh that it would not issue any Umrah visa to any Bangladeshi unless the erring agencies were penalised.