More than 300 Hajj agencies representatives, also known as Monazzems, are yet to receive visas from Saudi Arabia for guiding their pilgrims during this year’s Hajj.
Already, several thousands of Hajj pilgrims from Bangladesh have been facing hardship as representatives from their respective Hajj agencies have not yet arrived in Saudi Arabia to look after their well-beings and administrative works.
In previous years, Monazzems received multiple visas from the Saudi government and could frequently travel to and from Bangladesh and Saudi Arab for carrying out their administrative works. This year, however, the Saudi embassy did not award multiple visas to Monazzems.
Earlier on Thursday, Monazzems of different hajj agencies held an agitation in front of the capital’s Ashkona Hajj office protesting the refusal of their visas on time. During the protests, they chanted slogan against top officials of the Ministry of Religious Affairs and at one stage tried to break into the office premises.
Mizanur Rahman, director (hajj office) of the Ministry of Religious Affairs (MoRA), told the Dhaka Tribune that all the 325 hajj agencies Monazzem will get ordinary hajj visa by Sunday.
“We have already submitted their applications with passport and other documents at the Saudi embassy. They were supposed to get their visas on Thursday but unfortunately they did not get permission from the Saudi government. The visas will be given for short period up to end of Zilkad month,” he added.
Ibrahim Bahar, president of Hajj Agencies Association of Bangladesh (HAAB), told the Dhaka Tribune that it was very unfortunate that the Monazzems were yet to receive their visas.
He also alleged that MoRA and Saudi government had issued 1,270 bar code visas this year, however, not all of the 835 hajj agencies in the country were given bar code visas.
“High officials of the ministry had awarded bar code visas to state-managed Hajj pilgrims and to public official and employees, which was not at all essential,” he added.
Denying the allegations, Mizanur Rahman said it was the Saudi government who had taken the decision not to provide barcode visa to Monazzems.
He also informed that this year, Monazzems received visas valid for only 90 days.
