Published :
Updated :
For all latest news, follow The Financial Express Google News channel.
The government has taken punitive actions against 37 private hajj and travel agents due to their irregularities during the hajj in 2017, officials said.
The actions include cancellation of licences, suspension of licence for a particular period and financial penalty with warning. Licences of 19 local agencies were scrapped and 18 others blacklisted.
The number of errant private operators would increase further as the Ministry of Religious Affairs (MoRA) already received inquiry reports against more agencies which were being crosschecked, the ministry sources said.
In a latest development, the ministry also warned the people not to do any financial transactions with the errant hajj and travel agencies to avert any further trouble.
Last year, the pilgrims and authorities concerned in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA) brought many allegations - such as not renting house for the pilgrims and not supplying foods - against the agencies.
The ministry later launched an investigation and found guilty.
Talking to the FE, Joint Secretary (Hajj) ABM Amin Ullah Nuri said the actions were taken following the investigation that found the allegations to be true.
He said that the ministry will publish another list of errant hajj and travel operators within a month as they received more inquiry reports.
"Some of the reports are at the review stage following appeals by some of the operators while some others are being crosschecked," he said, adding that the allegations are like depriving the pilgrims of necessary facilities.
Mr Nuri said the ministry also requested the people not to do any form of financial transactions with the operators which have been punished.
Seeking anonymity, an official of the ministry said the KSA also brought allegation of human trafficking against few operators. But he didn't agree to give the list of the agencies against whom such serious allegation was raised.
Former President of Bangladesh Hajj Agencies Association of Bangladesh (HAAB) Md. Ibrahim Bahar said the ministry should take actions against the operators considering the level of their offences.
"The image of the good agencies also getting tarnished because of the unethical practices by the bad operators," said Mr Bahar, also proprietor of Megatop Travels Ltd.
Shaikh Abdullah, former HAAB secretary general, hailed the punitive actions against the operators not discharging their duties with integrity.
He, however, requested the ministry to be cautious so that fair ones do not get affected by this type of actions.
The agencies receiving punishment are Al Amanat Travels, Al Hajj Travel Trade, Bright Travels, Columbia Travels International, Sanjid Travels International, Al Ziarath International, Assurance Air Service, Media Travels Service, Golden Travels and Cargo Services, Bushra Travels and Tours, Al-Bari Travels International, AL-Hayat Aviation, Central Travels and Tours, Club Travels Services, Heejoil Tours and Trades, Ibrahim Travels, Jiarat-e-Kaba Tours and Travels, M.A.M International Travels and Tours, M/S Jaman Enterprise, M/S Evergreen Tours and Travels, Mabrur Air International, Mesfallah Travels, Modina Air International Aviation, Royal Taiba Aviation, S. Ahmed Tours and Travels, Saeed Air International, Shuaib Air International, Soharada Ohahed Air Travels, South Asian Overseas Network, Suhail Air International, The Maxzim Travels Agency, Euro Asia Travels and Tours, Hazi Hafez Travels and Tours, Saoban Air Travels, Jetway Travels, Holy Darunnazat Hajj Overseas and A-Kaba Travels and Tourism.