Two lawmakers expressed their grievances at parliament yesterday over the alleged irregular activities at the Ministry of Religious Affairs regarding hajj pilgrims.
“Though it is known as the religious affairs ministry, the ministry officials are doing the most non-religious activities. I wonder if the name of the ministry should be changed,” said Moinuddin Khan Badal MP during an unscheduled discussion at parliament.
He mentioned such irregularities of one travel agency which is registered to handle hajj travelling – Humayra Travel Agency completed hajj registration of a person named JF Das, and another person was registered under the name Mobile.
“Saudi Arabia has stopped issuing Umrah visa to Bangladeshi citizens due to these non-religious activities,” he said.
“The ministry’s Joint Secretary Jahangir Alam’s son is owner of a hajj agency; his brother has another agency named Ibn Batuta Travel Agency where the director general of Islamic Foundation and an official of Ashkona hajj camp are involved.”
Moinuddin urged the government to take logical and time-bound steps against such misdeeds of the ministry.
Another lawmaker Najbul Bashar Maijbhandari also alleged that many of the ministry officials, especially in the joint secretary level, are linked with hajj business.
