Bangladesh minister blames travel agencies over Hajj visa disaster

The government has threatened stern measures against travel agents, blaming them for this year's complications in securing visas for Hajj pilgrims.

Senior Correspondentbdnews24.com
Published : 3 August 2017, 09:54 AM
Updated : 3 August 2017, 10:36 AM

Speaking to reporters on Thursday, Religious Affairs Minister Matior Rahman said travel agencies were responsible for the hitches.

“It’s the Hajj agencies, all of this would not have happened if not for their delays.”

Of the 127,198 pilgrims, only 52,600 have obtained visa. A total of 32,504 pilgrims have travelled to Saudi Arabia until now.

As many as 20,096 pilgrims were yet to begin their journey. But Biman Bangladesh, the national flag carrier, has been cancelling flights due to shortage of passengers.

The situation was further worsened by the Saudi authorities’ sudden move to impose an additional2,000 riyals for pilgrims, who performed Hajj in the last two years, which came alongside a hike in the fees for Muallems or guides in Saudi Arabia.

Until Wednesday, Biman Bangladesh Airlines cancelled 15 flights to Jeddah since it began transporting pilgrims on Jul 24.

The cancelled flights could have carried around 6,000 Bangladeshi pilgrims to Saudi Arabia.

On Wednesday, Civil Aviation Minister Rashed Khan Menon said that the problems need to be solved immediately to avoid more severe complications in Biman's flight operations for Hajj pilgrims.

Piling the blame on travel agents, the religious affairs minister said on Thursday, “We will take extreme actions. No one will be spared.”

He, however, said that visa complications occur every year, and hoped that it would be solved soon. “We'll be able to send every pilgrim for Hajj.”

Responding to a reporter's question, the minister said they were yet to receive a list of erring travel agents.

Travel agencies are not willing to cover the additional expenses, leading to a bickering between them and the passengers.

The Muallem fee was fixed at 720 riyals. But due to a lack of Muallems who had agreed to that pay, other guides are now demanding extra 1,500-1,900 riyals.

As many as 20,000 pilgrims are going for a second time in three years and will have to pay an additional 2,000 riyals. But the complications surrounding them are also affecting other passengers.

If one member of a family is facing trouble, the others are also stuck until the complications are sorted.

Minister Rahman said they have written to the Saudi government over the additional fee. “I think it was not appropriate to impose it, we hope they will consider it.”

But the government has nothing to do over the Muallem fee issue. “The government will not provide financial assistance to the pilgrims. But we will try our best to resolve the issue.”

He said that they have requested Biman for another 20 flights to carry pilgrims as more than a dozen of flights have been cancelled until now.