The New Nation - Internet Edition

UNB, Dhaka

Like yesteryear, uncertainty still looms over hassles-free hajj performing by Bangladeshi pilgrims as the private hajj-facilitating agencies could not rent dormitories for them in Makka and Madina of Saudi Arabia.

A review meeting on this year's hajj management, convened by the Religious Affairs Ministry on Thursday, was apprised of this situation. Officials from different ministries and government departments attended the meeting.

Both the Religious Affairs officials and the representatives of private hajj agencies blamed each other for the problem and also cited the countrywide floods as an excuse for the delays in renting the requisite pilgrim dorms.

Under the circumstances, sources concerned aired doubt as to whether the Bangladeshi hajj agencies could get good and nearest houses for the devotees as the other countries have completed the house-renting procedures much before. Religious Affairs Secretary Ataur Rahman, who presided over the meeting, however, said he is hopeful about completing the house-renting work soon.

He said dormitories were rented in Makka for only those devotees who would go to hajj under government management, and their number is 5,583. But, houses were rented neither in Makka nor in Madina for as many as 41,363 devotees who will go to hajj under the management of private hajj agencies, he added. This year, a total of 47,946 people will go to perform hajj, about 2,000 less than last year's figure.

The Religious Affairs Secretary said, "As per National Hajj Policy adopted this year, the house-renting procedures were mandatory to be completed within the month of Ramadan."