Two decisions by Saudi Arabia may cause hardship for private pilgrims performing the holy Hajj this year. The country's government has said that this year each Hajj agency will have to take a minimum of 1,000 people for Hajj; previously, it was a minimum of 250.
In addition, the Saudi government has imposed a ban on Hajj for those under the age of 15. As a result, the guardians of 600 registered pilgrims under the age of 15 are in trouble after depositing money. Hajj agencies are now under pressure after spending this money.
The Saudi government is being criticized for accepting these two decisions by the Ministry of Religious Affairs. Habibullah Mohammad Qutubuddin, owner of Al Qutub Hajj Travels, a member of the Hajj Agencies Association of Bangladesh (HAB), expressed regret and said that on the one hand, the ministry is putting pressure on the agencies to refund the money of registered child pilgrims. On the other hand, it is talking about replacing pre-registered pilgrims instead of child pilgrims.
Qutubuddin said, "Where will we get pre-registered pilgrims at this time? Apart from that, a large part of the money we have taken from child pilgrims has gone to the Saudi government. Some money has been deposited in ancillary works including house rent. How will we return that money until we get it back?"
Hub sources said that the number of registered Hajj agencies this year is 753. But due to the 'quota', only 70 agencies will have to fulfill the huge responsibility of serving about 82,000 pilgrims this time, which is very difficult, according to those concerned.
In such a situation, many Hajj-related people fear that various complications may arise this time due to the new restrictions of the Saudi government. Especially, pilgrims may suffer due to accommodation, transportation, food and physical illness. As the new law of the Saudi government has set a quota of 1,000 per agency, this time pilgrims may be deprived of getting proper services.
According to the Ministry of Religion, a total of 87,100 people from Bangladesh will go to Hajj this year. Of these, 81,900 have registered privately and 5,200 officially for Hajj. Due to the quota of 1,000 pilgrims per agency, about 82,000 people are going to Hajj this year through 70 lead agencies. Providing overall services, including care, accommodation and medical care, to such a large number of pilgrims can become complicated for 70 agencies. The Hajj pilgrimage will begin from April 29.
Hub sources said that the number of registered Hajj agencies this year is 753. But due to the 'quota', only 70 agencies will have to fulfill the huge responsibility of providing services to about 82,000 pilgrims this time, which is very difficult, according to those concerned.
The ministry's policy states that each agency can take a minimum of 100 to 300 pilgrims. Now it has become a minimum of 1,000. This raises the question of what the quality of service to the pilgrims will be.
Farid Ahmed Majumdar, Secretary General of HAAB
Haab Secretary General Farid Ahmed Majumdar told Prothom Alo, "After the registration of pilgrims was completed, the Saudi government set a quota. This has created an uncomfortable situation for us. Our Ministry of Religion did not have any guidelines in this regard. The ministry's policy states that each agency can take a minimum of 100 to 300 pilgrims. Now it has become a minimum of 1,000. This raises the question of what the quality of service to the pilgrims will be."
82,000 pilgrims under 70 lead agencies
Until now, each Hajj agency used to take 250 to 300-350 or more pilgrims. This year, three, four, or five agencies are making arrangements to send pilgrims by appointing one as the 'lead agency'. This year, the 81,900 people who will go for Hajj privately; All their documents are being filed with the relevant Saudi government offices in the names of those 70 'lead agencies'.
Hafizur Rahman, owner of 'Hazari Hajj Tours and Travels' in Bijoynagar, the capital, told Prothom Alo, 'Everyone wants to go on Hajj through their agency. As a result, everyone wants to be the "lead agency". In this situation, we have decided on the lead agency through a lottery. 188 people from my agency will go on Hajj this year. To fulfill the quota of 1,000, we are sending Hajj pilgrims together with four agencies.'
A total of 87,100 people from Bangladesh will go to Hajj this year. Of these, 81,900 have registered for Hajj privately and 5,200 for the government.
It has been learned from those concerned that various discussions are already underway in the relevant circles about the potential risks of sending Hajj pilgrims under the new rules. Earlier, a 'Monazzem' (contract person) would get approval and visa from the Saudi government for each Hajj agency. The appointment of this Monazzem is mandatory. This is because the Monazzems have to go to Saudi Arabia for fixing Monazzems for privately managed Hajj pilgrims, making agreements with Saudi authorities, renting houses and other tasks. They also have to stay for the services and management of the pilgrims. In the past, Hajj pilgrims who went through several hundred Hajj agencies used to get various services through the Monazzems. This time, it is feared that as only 70 Monazzems have been appointed for 70 agencies, about 82,000 Hajj pilgrims may be deprived of necessary services.
However, Joint Secretary of the Ministry of Religion Md. Manjurul Haque (Hajj Branch) told Prothom Alo, "Even though the number of Monazzems has decreased, we are providing one guide for every 46 pilgrims. We are providing separate training to them. Along with this, the agency owners are also staying."
Why did Saudi Arabia set the quota
Why is the Saudi government setting this agency quota? In this regard, Hajj service providers and related people say that the Saudi government has set this quota to avoid the pressure or hassle of official work during Hajj. Important issues such as selecting a company to provide services to pilgrims, reserving tent areas, renting houses and hotels for pilgrims in Mecca and Medina, and signing contracts with catering companies are related to Hajj agencies. If there are agencies, they have to struggle with these tasks. This year, by setting a minimum quota of 1,000 pilgrims for each agency, the Saudi government has effectively reduced the number of 'Monazzems'. These monazzems maintain contact with the Saudi government on various related issues regarding the pilgrims. This has made the work of the Saudi government easier, but has increased the problems of the Hajj agencies and the pilgrims.
On December 9, I sent a DO letter with a personal request to the Saudi government's Hajj Minister. In view of that, the Saudi government reduced the agency quota from 2,000 to 1,000.
AFM Khalid Hossain, Religious Affairs Advisor
It is known that for several years the Saudi government had been trying to set a large number of quotas per agency. But it was stopped due to the close communication and lobbying of the previous authorities of the association with the Saudi government's Hajj Ministry. This time, no such initiative was visible from the government or the new authorities of the Hub.
However, Religious Affairs Advisor AFM Khalid Hossain officially told reporters in this regard that he had failed in several meetings with the Saudi government's Hajj Minister and even by sending a DO letter to reduce the agency quota to a minimum of 500. Moreover, the Saudi government sent a letter setting the agency quota at 2,000. At this stage, he finally sent a DO letter with a personal request to the Saudi government's Hajj Minister on December 9. In view of that, the Saudi government reduced the agency quota from 2,000 to 1,000.
Hajj-related people say that the current crisis has been created due to irregularities and negligence of many officials of the Ministry of Religion who are working in Dhaka and Saudi Arabia with the Hajj management.
Habibullah Mohammad Qutubuddin, a member of the Hajj, told Prothom Alo, "Given the situation, it seems to me that government officials do not want the Hajj to be managed privately."
Of course, Md. Manjurul Haque, an official of the ministry's Hajj branch, told Prothom Alo that the issue of determining the quota is entirely the responsibility of the Saudi government. The religious advisor has written a letter to the Saudi government twice requesting it. But they have politely said 'no'.
Manjurul Haque does not see the responsibility of the officials involved in the Hajj management for the current complications that have arisen with the quota and the talk that is being made about the Hajj management.
3,500 Hajj pilgrims still not paid rent
Last Tuesday, Religious Affairs Advisor AFM Khalid Hossain said in a press conference that 10,487 Hajj pilgrims have not received rent and transport contracts. There are concerns about their going on Hajj. He warned that if any agency cannot send registered persons for Hajj, their license will be canceled, their security deposit will be canceled and a criminal case will be filed. A meeting was held between the top leadership of the Hub and ministry officials on Thursday afternoon to resolve the issue quickly.
Related responsible sources said that the Ministry of Religious Affairs issued an urgent notice to nine agencies eight times for not paying rent and transport contracts to 10,487 Hajj pilgrims in Mecca and Medina, Saudi Arabia. Challenger Travels and Tours of the current president of the Hub, Syed Ghulam Sarwar, was among them. Till last night, six of the nine agencies had completed their rent and transport contracts for their Hajj pilgrims. Three and a half thousand Hajj pilgrims from three agencies have not yet been paid their rent.
Those concerned say that the 'Monazzem' complication is largely responsible for this crisis. Because, until now, hundreds of Hajj agencies used to take Hajj pilgrims. Each Hajj agency would easily get a visa to Saudi Arabia as a designated 'Monazzem'. They would complete contracts, house rent and transport contracts with the Saudi authorities. This time, that opportunity has become limited due to 70 lead agencies. Despite being the owners of registered Hajj agencies, many have faced visa complications and have not yet been able to ensure various services to the Hajj pilgrims.
HAAB Secretary General Farid Ahmed Majumdar believes that the problem that has arisen this time is due to that quota. The lead agency is responsible for the house rent and transport contracts of the Hajj pilgrims. That is why the coordinating agency is not able to cooperate in that way.