Ministry to look into fraud
Religious affairs ministry yesterday asked its officials to look into the alleged fraudulent activities of a hajj operator which disappeared with passports and money of 70 aspirant hajis of Mymensingh and Jamalpur.
The office of Mawna Travels and Tours at Mawna Chourasta in Sreepur upazila, Gazipur, which received more than Tk 1.79 crore to make all arrangements for them to perform hajj -- from visa, air tickets to food -- in Saudi Arabia, has been closed for at least a week.
Its owner Ali Ashraf is also absconding, alleged Momtaz Uddin, a hajj guide of the aspirant hajis, while talking to this correspondent yesterday over the phone.
The Daily Star yesterday published a report based on statements of several aspirant hajis and Momtaz.
The 70 aspirant hajis have paid Tk 1.79 crore to the hajj operator through two hajj guides.
Contacted, acting secretary of the religious affairs ministry Abdul Jalil said they have taken this newspaper's report into account and directed officials concerned to look into the allegations.
"We will take punitive measures if we find any evidence in support of the allegation. Apart from imposing fine, the ministry may cancel licence of the hajj operator,” Jalil also said.
Two mobile phones of Ali Ashraf, proprietor of Mawna Travels and Tours, were found switched-off for the last two days.
PASSENGER SHORTAGE
A top official of Biman Bangladesh Airlines yesterday told The Daily Star that on average, over 350 to 400 seats remain unoccupied in hajj flights every day, causing them to worry about being able to send all intended hajis to Jeddah on time.
“If the current trend of hajj flight continues, hajis will certainly be in trouble this year,” the Biman official said, wishing anonymity.
“In that case, Biman will not take any responsibility,” he added.
So far, over 1,700 seats were unoccupied in Biman hajj flights that started on August 4.
A Biman official said over 125 seats were unoccupied in Saturday's hajj flights while 280 seats in Sunday's hajj flights and over 700 seats in yesterday's hajj flights.
He said only seven days are left for carrying the rest 31,000 hajis to Saudi Arabia. “In this situation, we will not be able to send all the aspirants hajis there if a single seat of hajj flights goes without passenger,” he added.
Biman yesterday called upon all hajj operators and hajis to confirm and collect tickets by today.
In a press release, Biman yesterday warned that there might be uncertainty over the sending of all the aspirant hajis to Saudi Arabia within the schedule time if hajis or hajj agencies did not buy tickets by today.
The last hajj flight is scheduled for September 5.
Abu Saleh Mostafa Kamal, director at the hajj office at Ashkona Hajj Camp, yesterday said they would take stern action against hajj agencies which failed to ensure tickets for hajis on time.
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