Dhaka: Prime Minister Tarique Rahman today directed the concerned ministries to ensure the highest standard of services for Hajj pilgrims during the upcoming Hajj. The premier issued the directives while presiding over a meeting of the National Committee on Hajj Management at the Cabinet Room of the Prime Minister’s Office in the Bangladesh Secretariat this afternoon, said PM’s Additional Press Secretary Atikur Rahman Ruman.
According to Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha, the holy Hajj is approaching, and a meeting of the National Committee on Hajj Management was held with Prime Minister Tarique Rahman in the chair. During the meeting, the Prime Minister instructed that those engaged in serving the Hajj pilgrims this year must ensure the best services. Tarique Rahman also asked the concerned authorities to remain alert so that no Hajj pilgrim suffers during the journey.
This year’s Hajj flights will begin on the night of April 18, with a total of 78,500 pilgrims from Bangladesh traveling to Saudi Arabia. Among them, 4,565 pilgrims will go under government arrangements, while 73,935 will travel through private agencies. About 50 percent of the total pilgrims will travel by Biman Bangladesh Airlines, with the rest using Saudia Airlines and Flynas.
The meeting also discussed improving Hajj management systems, uploading pilgrims’ information online, evaluating Hajj agencies, identifying agencies with complaints, and appointing Moallems from Bangladeshi expatriates living in Saudi Arabia starting from the next Hajj season. Religious Affairs Minister Kazi Shah Mofazzal Houssain (Kaikobad), Civil Aviation and Tourism Minister Afroza Khanam (Rita), State Minister M Rashiduzzaman Millat, lawmaker Shamim Kaiser Lincoln, Cabinet Secretary Nasimul Ghani, Principal Secretary ABM Abdus Sattar, and Hajj Agencies Association of Bangladesh (HAAB) President Syed Golam Sarwer and Secretary General Farid Ahmed Majumder were present at the meeting.