Pilgrims have expressed satisfaction over this year’s hajj management though some 300 people missed the holy Islamic ritual after being deceived by moallems (guide) and hajj agencies.

After reaching the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA) on different routes, pilgrims told the Daily Sun that they did not face any major hassles and they are pleased with the overall management in Bangladesh.Mohammed Mozammel Huq had been dreaming about performing hajj since he saw his father embarking on the pilgrimage decades ago.

“It was my lifelong dream to perform the Hajj. When my father went to perform hajj he had mixed experiences. Therefore, I was afraid of my pre-hajj days in Bangladesh. But the things have improved a lot. I am very happy with the hajj management system,” he said.

Pilgrims got all visa, customs, and health related services in one place at Dhaka’s Ashkona Hajj Camp and they didn’t need to wait long hours before and upon reaching Saudi Arabia as they have already gone through the process at home.

Businessman Yahia Helal said pilgrims seemed to be satisfied with the overall management of hajj travels.

“We have completed the immigration formalities very easily at Dhaka airport. It took me less than 30 minutes to complete the immigration process. Saudi immigration part was also done quickly,” he said.

Homemaker Rokeya Khatun Lata is also happy with the process.

She said, “I went to the hajj Camp in Dhaka’s Ashkona where most of my formalities were completed. There were several desks at our service.

“Whenever I asked for any information or help, they cooperated with me. I am very happy from the very outset of the journey.”

As many as 60,146 Bangladeshis have travelled to the KSA to perform the hajj after a two-year disruption caused by the coronavirus pandemic. Meanwhile, around 300 pilgrims are missing this year’s hajj after being deceived by their moallems (guide) or Hajj agencies.

Some 32 people had signed an agreement with moallem Abdul Hai to go for hajj. Hai, an imam of a mosque in Sirajganj’s Ullapara, took Tk 600,000 from each of them and assured that their flight will leave Dhaka airport on June 27 but lat3r switched off his mobile phone.

“Ten days have elapsed, but we still haven’t received any updates about the status of our flight. Our guide has stopped contacting us and his phone is also switched off. All our documents, including passports, are with him,” said Tahmida Begum, one of the deceived hajj aspirants.

They are now seeking the government’s help to get their money back. Many of them now fear that they will never get another chance to perform hajj if the Saudi authorities uphold the age limit rule next year.

In light of the coronavirus pandemic, the Saudi Arabian government has lowered the age limit for pilgrims to 65 this year.

Dhaka Hajj office director Saiful Islam said the government repeatedly asked the Hajj aspirants to be aware of opportunist individuals. He said they will request the law enforcement agencies to take stern action against the perpetrators.

The Ministry of Religious Affairs recently said in a statement that they have information about 300 hajj pilgrims being cheated by unscrupulous moallems and fraudster Hajj agencies.

The list of frauds includes individuals like Abdul Hai and anonymous agencies like Al Helal Agency and registered agencies like Maria and Arabian Tours, the ministry said.

President of Hajj Agencies Association of Bangladesh (HAAB) M Shahadat Hossain Taslim said, “This kind of incidents is really unfortunate. This year all stakeholders related to the Hajj activities were cautious yet a few fraudsters took the opportunity. If any HAAB members are involved with such crime, they will have to face the music.”