Discussions revolved around pressing national issues ranging from river navigability to the rising menace of teen gangs in Dhaka, alongside concerns about the Hajj pilgrimage package in the national parliament on Tuesday.
State Minister for Shipping, Khalid Mahmud Chowdhury, presented alarming statistics indicating the loss of navigability in numerous rivers across Bangladesh.
Out of a total of 308 rivers surveyed, a significant portion has lost navigability, with breakdowns by divisions revealing Dhaka bearing the brunt with 85 affected rivers, followed by Rangpur, Rajshahi, and others. Despite these challenges, the government is actively engaged in dredging operations, with plans outlined for further interventions to enhance river communication systems.
“In the last 15 years, from 2009 to 2023, 35 projects under ADP and 5 projects initiated by the Shipping Ministry have been taken to make the rivers navigable,” said the minister.
“To keep the country's riverine communication system normal and to increase the navigability of the rivers, the current government has prepared a concept paper for digging 491 rivers. According to the Concept Paper, BIWTA will dig 178 rivers and the Water Development Board will dig 313 rivers,” he added.
Meanwhile, Opposition Chief Whip Mujibul Haque Chunnu drew attention to the escalating issue of teen gangs wreaking havoc in various parts of Dhaka.
He cited instances of murders and rampant criminal activities perpetrated by these gangs, predominantly in areas like Mirpur, Demra, and Sutrapur.
Chunnu said that at least 80 teen gangs exist in Dhaka city.
“Despite being teen gangs in name, most of the members of these forces are over 18 years of age. They are doing all these crimes,” said Chunnu.
“These forces were not built in a day. These forces have now turned into a terrible form due to the inaction of the politicians and the police. Teen gangs have become a major threat to the safe living of people in the capital. 21 ward councillors have been named in Dhaka who are giving shelters to the teen gangs,” he added.
The opposition whip underscored the urgency for decisive action from authorities to curb this menace, emphasizing the need for political and law enforcement engagement to ensure the safety of citizens.
On the other hand, Religious Affairs Minister Faridul Haque Khan shed light on challenges surrounding the Hajj pilgrimage package. Despite government efforts, the fluctuating exchange rates, particularly the high price of the US Dollar, have posed obstacles in fixing a lower Hajj package rate.
The minister explained how the rising cost of Saudi Riyal, coupled with increased expenses in accommodation and facilities in Makkah and Madinah, has impacted the overall cost of the pilgrimage. Despite attempts to mitigate these factors, the government found it challenging to reduce the Hajj package cost significantly.
Furthermore, Faridul Haque Khan elaborated on the efforts to manage the pilgrimage quota efficiently, highlighting Bangladesh's status as the fourth-largest Hajj pilgrim-sending country globally. He detailed the adjustments made to the Hajj package in 2024, aiming to make it more accessible to pilgrims while acknowledging the persisting challenges posed by escalating costs and logistical constraints.
“In 2024, Bangladesh's quota of pilgrims was 127,198. A general Hajj package worth Tk578,840 has been fixed for the Hajj pilgrim in 2024. To fill up a cent percent quota this time, the price of the hajj package has been reduced by Tk 92,450 compared to the Hajj of 2023,” said the minister.
Faridul Haque Khan also said that house rent expenses have increased a lot this year due to the demolition of houses and hotels in many areas in Mecca and Medina in Saudi Arabia.
“Apart from this, the Meyallem fee including tent rent has increased in Mina and Arafa of Saudi Arabia. Due to all these reasons, despite the desire of the government, it was not possible to reduce the cost of Hajj,” he said.
In 2023, the government set Tk6,71,290 as the minimum cost for Hajj pilgrims under government management and Tk6,60,890 minimum under private management.
