United News of Bangladesh

The Ministry of Religious Affairs is providing interest-free microloans and financial assistance to imams and muezzins across the country from Imam-Muezzin Welfare Trust. These loans and financial aid are being offered to those who have received training at the Imam Training Academy of the Islamic Foundation, Ministry of Religious Affairs said in a press release on Monday. Umrah air ticket syndicate disbanded, says Adviser Khalid For the current fiscal year 2024-25, a total of Tk 1.8 crore has been distributed among 600 imams and muezzins as interest-free loans. Besides, Tk 2.31 crore  has been allocated as financial assistance for 4,620 imams and muezzins nationwide. Of this, Tk 14.75 lakh has already been distributed among 295 people in Dhaka district and the distribution of the remaining funds currently underway, read the release. A total of Tk 4.11 crore is being distributed in the current fiscal year for these two welfare initiatives. Contracts with Hajj service providers must be ended by Feb 14: Adviser Khalid Established in 2001, the Imam-Muezzin Welfare Trust aims to support imams and muezzins who face financial difficulties due to accidents, disabilities, or serious illness, as well as provide assistance to the families of deceased imams and muezzins. The trust also offers financial aid for the education of the children of imams and muezzins.

The government has directed the banks concerned to pay deposits of Hajj pilgrims and ordered them not to invest the money deposited by them A circular from the Hajj-1 section under the Ministry of Religious Affairs was issued in this regard on Tuesday, said a media release sent from the ministry. The banks concerned have been directed not to create any hassle in withdrawing money deposited for performing the 2025 Hajj by the aspirants or deposited money under any scheme, it reads. It also said that the expenses of the Saudi phase of the Hajj pilgrims and the money for air tickets are still being deposited in the bank accounts of the approved Hajj agencies of the Ministry of Religious Affairs for the Hajj activities. About 50 percent of the money deposited in these accounts will have to be sent to Saudi Arabia in the last week of December. That is why it has been requested not to invest the deposited money elsewhere. DU VC meets chief adviser, discusses university affairs Moreover, the hajj pilgrims have to deposit the necessary money for the Saudi phase of the Hajj pilgrims in the account titled 'agency pilgrims fund payable to KSA' of Sonali Bank, Ramna corporate branch in the light of the instructions of this ministry.    

Nominees of potential pilgrims registered by the government who already deposited their hajj funds but are unable to attend this year due to death, illness, or age limit will be allowed to withdraw their deposited money. The Ministry of Religious Affairs Wednesday issued a notice regarding the withdrawal of the deposit in case of death, illness, or expiry of the age limit of the depositors. The nominees will be able to withdraw the deposited money by applying to the registration refund system by logging onto www.hajj.gov.bd, it said. Performing hajj is one of the five pillars of Islam and able-bodied Muslims are obliged to perform it at least once in their lifetime if they can afford it. The five-day hajj pilgrimage takes place from the eighth to the 12th of Dhul Hijjah, the final month of the Islamic lunar calendar. In 2022, hajj will be observed from July 7-12. Also read: HAAB announces private Hajj package for 2022, Minimum cost fixed at 4,63,000

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina will inaugurate 50 model mosques across the country on the occasion of 'Mujib Year' on Thursday. These are part of a project which would ultimately set up 560 mosques all over Bangladesh in the coming days. This was stated at a press briefing of the Ministry of Religious Affairs at the Osmani Memorial Auditorium in the capital. Also read: Model mosques: A unique Mujib Borsho gift Md Faridul Haque Khan, state minister for religious affairs was present at the briefing. Sheikh Hasina will formally inaugurate the mosques at 10:30am through videoconferencing from her official residence, according to the briefing.

The government has made coronavirus vaccination mandatory for people willing to perform Hajj later this year.

Muslims in Bangladesh will observe the Shab-e-Barat on the night of March 29 as the Shaban moon was not sighted in the country on Sunday.

The pre-registration of intending pilgrims for performing the next year’s Hajj will be continued till the end of the year.

The government on Sunday urged Muslim devotees to offer Eid prayer in the nearest mosques instead of Eidgah and open spaces maintaining recommended health advice amid coronavirus pandemic.

The pilgrims who paid for the registration of Hajj this year will be able to take back their money if necessary, said the Ministry of Religious Affairs on Tuesday.

Eid-ul-Fitr, the largest religious festival of Muslims, will be celebrated in the country on Monday as the Shawwal moon was not sighted in Bangladesh sky on Saturday.