Dhaka: In the name of high-quality housing, healthy food and guide expenses, private Hajj agencies grab money with various tricks, but the pilgrims do not get the desired services. Instead, they were taken as hostages and subjected to extreme suffering.

It has been alleged that the facilities which were supposed to be provided to the Hajis, including medical and transport facilities, were not provided. The kind of home they were promised to be taken to Saudi Arabia did not happen in reality. They are kept in piles in very poor quality rooms. They are kept at a distance of 5-10 kms by renting houses near Kaaba Sharif from where it is almost impossible for the sick and the elderly to go to the Masjid Haram on foot and pray. Talking about the car, no car was provided there. In the absence of a guide, Hajis have to suffer a lot in unfamiliar places. Many could not perform Hajj properly.

Again, complaints were received against some agencies for not providing food to Hajj pilgrims. They are given inedible rotten food in polythene. Even though the agencies charge huge sums of money for providing food, the Hajis have to depend on food bought from outside. Many people passed the day by eating chira muri taken from the country.

Animal sacrifice was also unclear. Sacrificed without the knowledge of Hajis with money to buy animals. Such complaints have been submitted to the Ministry of Religion. The number of accused Hajj agencies is about 20-25.

According to sources in the Ministry of Religious affairs, the complaints raised against various Hajj agencies during the 2024 Hajj season are being investigated. For this, a decision will be taken after taking the statements of all the concerned Hajj agencies, verifying the complaints and the statements of the complainant.

If the allegation is proved on investigation, any punishment ranging from cancellation of license, suspension of license, forfeiture of security, monetary fine and reprimand can be imposed. The Ministry of Religious affairs also advises the complainants to file criminal cases if the allegations are serious.

Again, many agencies are exempted from charges, while agencies that commit minor offenses are warned for the future.

Regarding the process of punishing the Hajj agencies, an official of the ministry, who did not wish to be named, told Barta24.com that the agencies were called for a hearing after receiving complaints. A show cause notice is also given to an agency.

Regarding the complaints against the Hajj agencies, the Additional Secretary of the Hajj Division of the Ministry of Religious affairs Motiul Islam told Barta24.com that we have received complaints against 20-25 Hajj agencies. After receiving the complaint we seek clarification on the complaint. If satisfactory the charge is discharged. Someone is warned about the future. Some complaints have already been settled. The rest will be settled in quick time.

Preliminary registration for next Hajj has started. The Hajj package will be announced this month, the Ministry of Religion has already published the list of 891 Hajj agencies initially eligible for the 2025 Hajj in three phases. List of more Hajj agencies will be published after verification.

Type of complaint:

There are various types of complaints brought against Hajj agencies. For example, Rozina Air Travels (Hajj License No. 1127) has been called to the hearing for investigation. Four Hajis have complained against this agency. Their complaint is that despite the agreement to keep them in the 'A' package, they were kept in a very low-quality hotel, kept 8 km away from Haram Sharif, served poor quality food, not provided with meals in Makkah-Madinah, traveling from the hotel to Haram and Ziyarah at their own expense, sick Hajis in Mina. Not providing proper treatment and pilgrims themselves buying Jeddah-Dhaka flight tickets at exorbitant prices etc.

Another complaint against Rozina Air Travels is that they paid Tk. 580,000 to the agency along with sacrifices on the basis of verbal agreement for the 2024 Hajj. Later, if they demanded another Tk. 10,000 before the flight, he paid that too. It was said that the pilgrims themselves would slaughter the sacrificial animals. After stoning Jamara from Mina-Arafa-Muzdalifah, the agency wanted to take them to a hotel in Makkah and said their Qurbani already done. In this, Hajis has confessed to cheating and feels that the sacrifice money has been embezzled.

On the other hand, Mojahidul Islam, group leader of Amda Tours and Travels (Hajj License No. 598) and director of Mojahid Hajj Caravan, has been accused of harassing Umrah pilgrims without providing the promised service.

Ullas Tours and Travels (Hajj License No. 1277) and Europa Travels (Hajj License No. 1351) - The Saudi authorities have complained about the seizure of tobacco products in the luggage of pilgrims at the airport in Saudi Arabia.

Eight pilgrims complained against Sky World Travels and Tours (Hajj License No. 1211) that the agency was supposed to stay in a three-star hotel and 350 meters away from the clock tower, but the agency did not do so. After waiting for 3 hours in Makkah, put in a low quality hotel, which is blacklisted by the Saudi government.

Besides, women did not get a seat in the Minar tent from Makkah. They spent sleepless nights next to each other. Arafat's tent also suffered a lot of harassment, since Arafat left for Muzdalifah and was not contacted by the agency. From Muzdalifah they reached the hotel in Makkah with great difficulty by throwing stones at Jamara. After reaching the hotel, the agency people did not keep any news and did not provide proper food.

Complaint against Rahmaniya Hajj Group (Umra License No. 430) for not providing service as promised, The Padma Air International (Hajj License No. 1266) Complaint regarding loss of Hajj while performing Umrah, Ababil Travels and Tours (Umra License No. 463). Complaints against Star Holidays (Umra License No. 361 and Hajj License No. 362) regarding non-provision of service as promised and financial loss of Tk. 1 lakh at Madina Airport has been cheated.

Fraud against Ava Air Travels (Hajj License No. 1297), Saad Oswah Travels and Tours (Hajj License No. 1138) against another agency (M/s NMSS International, Hajj License No. 1319) holding license in disrepute Complaints have been raised. A Haji complained against Versatile Air Services Limited (Haj License No. 1397) for not providing the promised service.

Swadesh Overseas (Hajj License No. 1531) received various complaints including non-cooperation of Hajj guides, going to Madinah under their own management and staying in abandoned hotels in Madinah. Fifas Travels International (Hajj License No. 1496) as the lead agency should also respond to these allegations.

A woman Haji complained against Lime Stone Resort and Tourism Limited (Hajj License No. 0907) for paying Tk. 4 lakh to go to Hajj 2024. The owner of the agency went to Saudi without taking Hajj. Later, pilgrims are transferred and perform Hajj through other agencies. But Lime Stone Resort and Tourism is not refunding the Hajj jatri money.

Allegations have been made against Munira Travels and Tours (Hajj License No. 1058) for not performing Hajj after receiving money.

There are various complaints against Subway Travels and Holidays (Hajj License No. 1233) including accommodation in low-quality hotels, serving low-quality food, bad behavior.

Ababil International Tours and Travels Limited (Hajj License No. 1295) has been accused of embezzling money without performing Hajj.

42 Hajis complained against Emdad Air Travels and Tours (Hajj License No. 1477) for not receiving the promised service.

Against Pan Bright Travels (Pvt.) Ltd. (Hajj License No. 111) for non-provision of hotel, non-supply of water for 3/4 days, no bed sheet, broken AC, non-cleaning of garbage, broken fan and fridge Complaints have come from the pilgrims.

The National Human Rights Commission has filed a complaint against Haji Shariatullah Overseas Limited (Hajj License No-0317) and Madina Star Tours and Travels (Hajj License No-0982) on behalf of the National Human Rights Commission for hazing and catering to Hajids during the 2024 Hajj.

The Ministry of Religious Affairs issued a show-cause notice to Raisa Tours and Travels (Hajj License No. 1478) for conducting pre-registration of 26 passengers through other IDs without using the approved email IDs.

Safa Marwa Travels (Hajj License No. 360) has been accused of promoting a missing 78-year-old pilgrim. However, the missing person was later found under treatment at Al-Noor Specialized Hospital in Makkah after a long month with the help of Bangladesh Hajj Mission. Besides, this agency does not have valid permission to send passengers for Umrah.

Ali International Travels (Hajj License No. 1406) against Travel Noorani (Hajj License No. 1276) in a mutual debt dispute and Qibla International Travels (Hajj License No. 1108) for payment of house rent in Makkah. Proprietor of M/s Saim Travels and Tours International (Hajj License No. 505). On the other hand, Senator Air Travels (Hajj License No. 11730) has been accused of not refunding the Umrah ticket.

If the charges against the accused agencies are proved, they will be punished. In that case, they will no longer have the opportunity to participate in the Hajj activities.

It is known that a total of 259 Hajj agencies participated in the 2024 Hajj activities. 234 of them were lead Hajj agencies. However, the Ministry of Religious affairs has approved the sending of Haj pilgrims through 1533 Haj agencies. But the small agencies which did not get enough Haji have been merged with 234 big agencies. That is, the Hajj agencies which could not register a minimum of 250 Hajj pilgrims are designated as a lead agency. Saudi Arabia is more interested in receiving Hajj pilgrims through fewer agencies for various benefits including communication.

Earlier, 47 Hajj agencies were punished in 2019, 54 in 2022 and 61 in 2023 for various allegations.