Religious Affairs Adviser Dr. A. F. M. Khalid Hossain said on Friday that the air ticket syndicate for Umrah has been disbanded.

"The practice of selling tickets at inflated prices through group bookings by syndicates has been stopped," he said in his speech as the chief guest at the inauguration of the District Model Mosque and Islamic Cultural Center in Cox's Bazar.

He said that now tickets must be booked using the passport number of the concerned passenger. If a ticket is not issued within three days, the booking will automatically be canceled.

This move aims to eliminate the practice of booking group tickets and raising prices by double or triple.

"A policy has been put in place to address this issue," he added.

Dr. Khalid also highlighted the long-standing atmosphere of harmony in Cox's Bazar, stating that there has been no communal unrest or misunderstanding in the area.

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He expressed hope that this spirit of brotherhood would be further spread through the new mosque.

The model mosque can accommodate 1,100 men for prayers at a time. It also features separate ablution and prayer facilities for women and people with physical or visual impairments. Additional facilities include car parking, a bathing area for the deceased, a conference room, an auditorium, a Quran education system, an Islamic Foundation office, a library, and an Imam training center.

The event, chaired by Deputy Commissioner Mohammad Salahuddin, was attended by officials from both government and private sectors, including Shahidul Alam, Project Director of the Model Mosque Project.

The government is constructing 564 model mosques across the country at a cost of Tk 9,500 crore. The construction of 350 mosques has already been completed.