Islam stipulates that Hajj should be performed by only those who can afford it; but the government every year sponsors a team to Mecca for performing the pilgrimage and also serve the Bangladeshi hajjis in Saudi Arabia.
However, there are allegations that instead of carrying out their duties, some members of the team waste time and spend the state coffer’s money for sightseeing and shopping.
The team selected for “state-sponsored” Hajj this year includes cooks, chauffeurs, caretakers, motor cleaners, office attendants, members of parliament and their spouses, bureaucrats, political activists and journalists.
“Islam has made Hajj mandatory for the rich and economically solvent people, not for the poor. Therefore, Hajj with government funding is not acceptable,” Muhammad Yousuf, professor of Islamic studies at Dhaka University, told the Dhaka Tribune.
Every year, the government sends three teams to Mecca. The government Hajj delegation includes minister, parliamentarians, secretaries and other high officials. The second team is made up of associates including cooks, chauffeurs, etc. The third is a team of doctors who serve the Hajjis in case medical emergencies.
Officials say there are two reasons behind sending the team of associates – they are to serve the Bangladeshi Hajjis and perform the Hajj for themselves simultaneously.
The government bears the airplane fares and accommodation costs in Saudi Arabia and gives at least Tk1 lakh cash to each of the members of the team of associates.
But in most cases, the team members spend time and money for sightseeing and shopping. Sometimes members of the delegation do not even return home after the assignment.
For instance, in 2012, two members of the associate delegation did not return home with the Hajjis.
The Hajj is the biggest global religious congregation of the Muslims that is performed by millions from across the world every year.
It is one of the five pillars of Islam, and a religious duty which must be carried out at least once in a lifetime by every adult Muslim who is physically fit and financially capable of undertaking the journey and supporting his family during his absence.
According to former religious affairs secretary Abdur Rab Howlader, the government has been sending the team of associates since the mid-1980s.
Mizanur Rahman, officer at the Hajj camp in Uttara, told the Dhaka Tribune: “It is true that although some members of the associate Hajj delegation are dedicated for serving the Hajjis, many of them do not perform their duties.”
He also said they are supposed to work under the supervision of the officials of the Bangladesh mission in Saudi Arabia.
This year, the Religious Affairs Ministry has prepared a list of 125 people as the associate delegation. The list has names of at least 21 people from Mymensingh, the home of district Religious Affairs Minister Matiur Rahman.
At least 17 people, mostly fourth class government employees who work in the office and residence of the Prime minister, have also been included in the list.
For instance, Md Siddiqur Rahman, a motor cleaner at the Prime Minister’s Office, is on the list. Md Mosharaf Hossain Gazi, a cook who works at the prime minister’s residence, Ganabhaban, is also in the list. Azad Hossain Mintu, a cook who works at the president’s office and residence Bangabhaban, will also perform Hajj this year.
Begum Hasina Shirin, an assistant secretary of the Religious Affairs Ministry, told the Dhaka Tribune that the ministry had sought the names of people from the PMO and Bangabhaban.
“We also entertain requests from the MPs, members of the parliamentary standing committees and government officials. Moreover, the religious affairs minister has some preferences. After accommodating all the names, we send the final list to the PMO, which gives the final nod,” Begum Hasina said.