Stop Hajj registration scams

Devout Muslims aspire to perform Hajj at least once in their lifetime. Each year, thousands of Muslims from Bangladesh embark on this sacred journey, organised by government and private entities. However, not all involved with Hajj management do their job sincerely. Allegations of fraud and unethical practices against several agencies are there. Every year, reports emerge about some Hajj agencies deceiving pilgrims. Promises of comfortable accommodations near the Kaaba Sharif often go unfulfilled, with pilgrims instead placed in overcrowded, substandard housing far from the holy site. Transportation services, frequently touted in packages, are sometimes nonexistent, causing significant hardship, especially for elderly pilgrims.

Additionally, the promised guides are often not provided, leaving pilgrims to navigate unfamiliar places alone. These failures are not merely oversights but clear violations of trust and contract.

According to a report, recently an individual took millions of takas from 260 pilgrims and then disappeared. In Rangpur, another person collected Tk 30 million from 75 pilgrims through his agency and then vanished. Similarly, another organisation registered 448 pilgrims without contacting the ministry.

Although the owners of two fraudulent Hajj agencies were caught with the money, only mild action was taken against one, while no action was taken against the other. Officials from the Ministry of Religion have admitted that lobbying efforts hinder tough action against these deceitful agencies. There are allegations that some officials within the ministry complicit in these irregularities help fraudsters to evade punishment.

Hajj management involves the religious emotions of people, the country's reputation and the well-being of pilgrims of all ages. We urge the government to take effective measures to ensure smooth and honest administration of the holy Hajj. It is crucial to protecting the interests of pilgrims and upholding its sanctity.

Imran Ahmed

Gulshan, Dhaka