Cabinet gives nod to Hajj, Umrah management bill to deal with irregularities
The Cabinet today approved in principle the draft of the Hajj and Umrah Management Bill 2020 that aims to deal with irregularities and mismanagement in the sector.
The approval came at a meeting chaired by Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina who joined it virtually from Gono Bhaban.
"Our Hajj and Umrah management has worked through a policy up to now. No legal action could be taken against irregularities in many cases," Cabinet Secretary Khandker Anwarul Islam told media after the meeting.
Whenever the government makes a move against any agency, it brings a stay order from the High Court challenging the action, Anwarul said.
"So, we need a legal structure to deal with Hajj management. Without having registration under the proposed law, no one will be able to deal with any Haji [Hajj pilgrim]. And the registration authority can take action against irregularities," he said.
According to the bill, the registration of any Hajj and Umrah agency can be cancelled over anomalies.
Also, a Hajj agency can be slapped with a fine of maximum Tk 50 lakh, while an Umrah agency with Tk 15 lakh for irregularities, the cabinet secretary said.
"If any agency gets warnings for two years in a row, its registration will automatically be suspended for the same period. Also, lawsuits can be filed against criminal offences committed in the Hajj and Umrah management," Anwarul said.
The religious affairs ministry placed the bill in the cabinet following its directive issued in 2012 to enact a law instead of the existing policy, he also said.
"After the enactment of the new law, if a Bangladeshi gets involved in Hajj-related irregularity even in Saudi Arabia, it can be treated as if it had happened in Bangladesh and legal steps, including criminal and administrative actions, can be taken," the cabinet secretary added.
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