‘People engaged in human trafficking in name of Umrah to be punished’

The government will take punitive action against the persons responsible for human trafficking in the name of Umrah Hajj, said the religious affairs minister Principal Motiur Rahman on Monday.
The Saudi authorities have stopped issuing Umrah Hajj visa recently as some six to seven thousand people were not returning back to the country after performing Umrah Hajj.  
"This has tarnished the image of the country. For this reason the Saudi authorities stopped issuing Umrah visa, causing difficulties for the real persons intending to perform Umrah," he told journalists at a press briefing at the conference room of the ministry.  
"We will take action against the persons responsible for this," he said.
Mr Rahman said his ministry had sent a letter to the Saudi government on May 28 last to consider re-issuance of Umrah visa.
"We are discussing with the Saudi authorities to restart Umrah visa. We hope it will be restarted soon," he said.
He said the government will streamline Umrah Hajj management.
Admitting the mismanagement in Umrah Hajj the minister said, "If necessary, the Umrah Hajj activities will be brought under the direct supervision of the ministry".
    talhabinhabib@yahoo.com