Challenger Travels blacklisted by Saudi Arabia, fearing the suffering of 1,018 Hajj pilgrims

Challenger Travels, a lead Hajj agency comprising 16 affiliated agencies, is responsible for coordinating the pilgrimage of 1,018 Bangladeshi pilgrims. Many of these pilgrims have already arrived in Saudi Arabia.

On 11 May, at 2:00 PM Bangladesh time, the Ministry of Religious Affairs of Bangladesh held an online meeting with the Saudi Ministry of Hajj and Umrah and all lead agencies.

The meeting was attended by Dr. Hasan Al Manakhara, Deputy Minister of the Saudi Ministry of Hajj and Umrah, and A.K.M. Aftab Hossain Pramanik, Secretary of the Ministry of Religious Affairs of Bangladesh, according to local media.

During the meeting, the Saudi Deputy Minister stated that Challenger Travels & Tours had relocated pilgrims from approved accommodations to unauthorised ones without notifying the service company. As a result, the Saudi government has blacklisted the agency and its associated guide (monazzem) from participating in Hajj and Umrah activities. Additionally, the monazzem has been banned from entering Saudi Arabia.