Staff Correspondent

Agencies are subjecting people to various forms of harassment, including accommodation, transportation, and financial exploitation, while taking them to Makkah and Madinah for Umrah. As a result, those going for Hajj and Umrah are facing severe crises and difficulties.

These allegations were made by Syeda Khadija Begum, principal administrative officer of Bangamata Sheikh Fazilatunnesa Mujib Hall of Dhaka University. She said she had been subjected to the harassment diring her recent Umrah.

On Sunday (February 23) afternoon, she made these statements during a press conference at the Dhaka University Journalists' Association (DUJA) office. At that time, she called on all relevant government institutions involved with Hajj and Umrah to take effective action against these issues.

At the press conference, the victim stated that she initially deposited 136,000 BDT through a Hajj agency named "Muzdalifah" and made all necessary preparations for Umrah. However, upon arriving at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport in Bangladesh, the agency handed them over to another agency named "Ma Ambia Tours & Travels." Later, they were forced to stay under the care of different agencies.

Describing the incident, she said, “On January 9 at noon, I left Dhaka on Saudi Air with the intention of performing Umrah. By the time I reached Jeddah, it was already late at night. At that time, a Muallim (guide) put us on a bus, and that’s when the suffering began. As soon as we got on the bus, they took our passports and demanded bus fare. Later, they forcibly collected the fare. Moreover, they kept our passports withheld.”

She further stated, “Not only that, but in an effort to cut costs, agencies provide extremely low-quality food. While the food in Makkah was relatively better, in Madinah, they provided poor-quality food for the sake of higher profits. Additionally, the Muallim who acted as our guide took us to places at his own convenience. There were instances when he took us outside in the scorching heat, even though he could have taken us at a time when the sun was less intense.”

Expressing frustration over the constant worries instead of focusing on worship, she added, “We were told that we would be given accommodation right next to Haram Sharif. However, when we arrived, we found that we were given a house deep inside an alley, far away. Furthermore, they accommodated five of us in a room meant for three people. Due to the agencies’ mismanagement, women also faced inconveniences regarding washroom facilities.”

Khadija urged the interim government to address passenger fraud by Hajj agencies. She further demanded that fake licenses of Hajj agencies be revoked and that a strict rule be enacted to prevent one agency from transferring passengers to another.

Director of the accused Hajj agency, "Muzdalifah," Habibur Rahman, could not be reached as his mobile phone was switched off.

Meanwhile, when contacted, the director of "Ma Ambia Tours & Travels," Md. Tofayel Islam, stated that it is possible for multiple agencies to operate under one person or organization. However, when asked about the passengers’ suffering, he avoided the matter, saying that he was in a meeting.