Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina said his government had passed the Hajj and Umrah Management Act, 2021 to ensure the smooth conduct of the hajj by Bangladeshi worshipers. “We have taken appropriate measures so that hajj pilgrims can travel and perform hajj without being harassed,” she said.
She said the action was taken as a result of her experiences as she had seen many irregularities in the handling of the hajj (for Bangladeshi pilgrims) since she performed Umrah in 1984 and then the hajj in 1985 and later at the invitation of the King of Saudi Arabia.
The prime minister said this during the inauguration of Hajj-2022 activities at the Hajj office in the capital as the main guest, joining the event virtually from her official residence in Gonobhabon on Friday, June 3.
She said, “Thus, we made efforts to improve the management of hajj after we came to power in 1996 and we were able to improve the management in phases.”
Noting that her government has transformed the country into Digital Bangladesh, she said, “Today the management of e-Hajj has been introduced and so pilgrims would not face suffering as they did in the past. . We were able to remove the suffering.
“It is our duty to ensure that pilgrims can perform their hajj and offer their prayers smoothly,” she added.
“Through the Road to Mecca initiative, we have been able to make our Hajj management more technology-based. Immigration (from Saudi Arabia) takes place in Dhaka so that there are no issues of difficulties and harassment,” she said, adding, “The Saudi government has taken steps to ensure that the luggage arrives at its destination (the pilgrims’ place of residence). Dedicated air service is provided.”
The Prime Minister thanked the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud and Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman Al Saud for giving hajj pilgrims the opportunity to travel to Saudi Arabia, as they do not didn’t have the scope. for two years due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
She urged hajj pilgrims to pray for divine blessings for the overall welfare of the country so that Bangladesh’s economic development journey continues and people have a decent life.
“My appeal to all of you (hajj pilgrims) is that you must pray for Bangladesh and its people so that the country can stay safe from natural disasters and pandemics like the coronavirus. . . and we can advance economic development and other activities,” she said.
She also asked hajj pilgrims to offer prayers so that the world and humanity remain protected from the Covid-19 pandemic.
Mentioning that his government has developed the management of hajj using modern technology, Sheikh Hasina said, “It is our duty to arrange all facilities so that those who travel to Saudi Arabia can perform hajj and worship properly.” .
She called on all to uphold the dignity of the very peaceful and holy religion that is Islam. “Islam is a very peaceful and holy religion and it is the best religion, so it is the duty of all of us to preserve its dignity.
Referring to Bangladesh’s ongoing economic progress, the Prime Minister said, “Please pray for the country so that we can move forward on the path of development and that every person can get food, clothes, shelter, insurance -illness and education, and thus an improved and decent life”. .”
She also asked pilgrims to abide by the rules and laws of Saudi Arabia when performing their hajj rituals. “It is our duty to all of us to defend the dignity of the country. Keep that in mind,” she added.
The first hajj flight, carrying 419 pilgrims from Bangladesh, is due to depart next Sunday for Saudi Arabia. As the Coronavirus situation has improved a bit, this year the holy Hajj is going to be held (July 08 according to the moon sighting) with one million pilgrims from all over the world. Among them, 57,585 hajj pilgrims will be from Bangladesh.
Before the Covid-19 pandemic, 127,198 pilgrims from Bangladesh performed the hajj in 2019.
The head of government exchanged pleasantries with the pilgrims and asked them to offer prayers for the people of Bangladesh and their family members who were brutally killed in 1975.
Under the chairmanship of the Minister of State for Religious Affairs, Md. Faridul Haque Khan, MP, the Secretary of the Ministry, Kazi Enamul Hassan, gave a welcome speech.
Minister of State for Civil Aviation and Tourism, Md. Mahbub Ali, Saudi Ambassador to Bangladesh Issa bin Youssef Al-Dahilan and Chairman of Hajj Agencies Association of Bangladesh (HAAB), Ms. Shahadat Hossain Taslim, also spoke._BSS
