United News of Bangladesh

The government will set up hajj management centres in Bangladesh and the holy cities of Makkah and Madinah in addition to launching a dedicated mobile application, aiming to provide smooth services to hajj pilgrims. The app will be introduced to provide a wide range of services, including lost luggage tracking, medical assistance, complaint remedy, real-time information and emergency support, Religious Affairs Adviser AFM Khalid Hossain said in an exclusive interview with UNB. Through the app authorities in Dhaka will be able to monitor and support pilgrims in Saudi Arabia round the clock. The adviser said the initiatives are being taken to make this year’s hajj smoother and hassle-free. The decision to establish hajj management centress was taken at a meeting of the National Committee on Hajj Management held on February 25 at the office of the Chief Adviser, he said. Hajj registration deadline extended till Dec 15 He said, “The centres will be operational at the Ashkona Hajj Office and Bangladesh hajj offices in Makkah and Madinah. Chief Adviser Dr Muhammad Yunus will inaugurate a Roaming Package, mobile app, Hajj pre-paid card service on April 20.” Hajj agencies asked to finalise agreements with approved service providers Besides, pilgrims this year will not require to carry cash, he said, adding each will be issued a debit card which is reloadable in Bangladesh and it can be used for transactions in Saudi Arabia, said Khalid. “The government is also set to introduce an affordable mobile phone roaming facility allowing pilgrims to use their Bangladeshi SIM cards in Saudi Arabia without purchasing new ones,” he added. Officials at the Ministry of Religious Affairs said the app will offer support before, during and even after the hajj journey. It will provide real-time instructions in Bangla and guide pilgrims on daily rituals, travel routes and historical backgrounds of sacred sites. It will also help remind pilgrims of relevant prayers for each day. In case of health issues, call centre representatives will connect pilgrims with medical professionals, said the officials. They said any question can be addressed through the app's hotline, and suggestions can be submitted via a feedback portal. “We want to ensure that the stress of travel does not interfere with the spiritual purpose of hajj,” a ministry official said. The app will also offer a smart luggage tracking feature. Electronic chips will be attached to luggage, enabling tracking from a central call centre as losing luggage is a frequent issue for Bangladeshi pilgrims, and this system will help prevent that, said the official. A total of 92,300 Bangladeshis will perform hajj this year – 5,200 under government management and 87,100 through private agencies. Registration began on September 1 last year and ended on December 26 while visa issuance began on February 19. Hajj flights are set to begin on April 29. This year, the cost of performing Hajj under government management is set at Tk 4,78,242 under Package-1 and Tk 5,75,680 under Package-2. The minimum cost for pilgrims under private management is Tk 4,83,156. A total of 941 hajj agencies are involved in this year’s operation. The holy hajj is expected to be observed on June 5 next subject to moon sighting.  

M Shahadat Hossain Taslim, has been re-elected President of Hajj Agencies Association of Bangladesh (HAAB), said a press release on Friday. Khandaker Shamsul Alam, chairman of the election management board, announced the results at the Diploma Engineering Institution auditorium in the capital's Kakrail on Thursday. Read: Haab announces private hajj package Taslim, head of HAAB Combined Forum panel. secured 650 votes while his rival candidate Abdus Sobhan Bhuiyan, head of the panel of the Democratic Unity Front, got 79 votes. Congratulating voters Taslim said, “I will try to stand by the side of the pilgrims and the agency as well as maintain discipline in Hajj management. I will try my best to do whatever is necessary for their welfare.” The elections were held in Dhaka, Chattogram and Sylhet simultaneously. Read: HAAB announces private hajj package In the election, 27 central members and 13 members of Dhaka Regional Committee and seven members of Chattogram Regional Committee have been elected from the same panel. Earlier, seven members of Sylhet Regional Committee were elected unopposed. The winning leaders will then elect their secretary general. A total of 728 out of 1044 exercised their franchise in the HAAB election.

As Hajj management in 2022 will be technology based, necessary training will be given to pilgrims and others concerned , said State Minister for Religious Affairs Md Faridul Haque Khan on Tuesday. “Pilgrims will perform hajj using different apps due to Covid-19 pandemic and currently Umrah activities are being performed by using apps in Saudi Arabia,” he said at a programme over Hajj management at the conference room of the ministry. The junior minister also said that the Saudi government also expressed its firm expectation that the Hajj will be held in 2022 due to improvement in Covid situation. Concerned officials, guides, representatives of Hajj agencies and pilgrims will be made aware of technology use in Hajj management and steps will be taken to give them training , he said.

State Minister for Religious Affairs Sheikh Mohammad Abdullah on Thursday said Hajj management will be improved further in 2020.

Dhaka, Oct 17 (UNB) – Expressing satisfaction over Hajj management in the last season, State Minister for Religious Affairs Sheikh Md Abdullah on Thursday said the management would be better next year as the government is working in this regard.