As many as 58,463 intending hajj pilgrims may face serious problems due to a tug of war between government and non-government agencies. The religious affairs ministry and the non-government-hajj agencies are blaming each other for non-cooperation centring the haj management.

To add to this, uncertainty grips the hajj pilgrims and agencies as they are still awaiting the final work from the Saudi government on whether people of above 65 years of age will be eligible to perform the hajj due to swine flu. There are widespread allegations that hundreds of people are deceived by the private hajj agencies every year. These people cannot go to Saudi Arabia to perform haj rituals even after depositing money.

Talking to The Independent, religious secretary said some members of Hajj Agencies' Association of Bangladesh (HAAB) were violating government-fixed charge and offering lower rate in order to attract the pilgrims. "Defying government-fixed charge at taka 2,25,000 for per person, some members of HAAB are offering lower rate to the pilgrims. The people who want ton perform hajj at a lower rate, are feeling encouraged to accept the private agencies' offer. But they would be at risk," the secretary said.

He said it is a total violation of government instruction. "Those who will be able to go to Saudi Arabia for performing hajj at cheap rate, will fall in trouble and face serious difficulties there as the private hajj agencies will provide service to them on the basis of payment," he added. When asked about Saudi Arabia's clarification about the reported decision to restrict the elders and children to travel to the country for fear of swine H1N1 virus, he said the Saudi government was yet to make its stand clear.

It may be pointed out that in July, the health minister of Saudi Arabian government in an emergency meeting in Egypt unanimously agreed that people above the age of 65, children under 12 and those with chronic illnesses should be excluded from undertaking the pilgrimage to Makkah to be held in late November. "We are waiting for the Saudi government's decision. But right now, we hope that we would not have to face any difficulties," he said.

Replying to a query, he said the ministry will take action against the Hajj agencies in line with the latest national hajj policy if they are found involved in irregularities and mismanagement. "But we are confident that the government will be able to ensure smooth performance of hajj by the pilgrims this year," the secretary added. Meanwhile, the HAAB president Mohammad Ibrahim Bahar told this reporter that a vested quarter in the religious affairs ministry was active to create a chaotic situation in a bid to disrupt the smooth functioning of hajj management.

"On the one hand, the government is not cooperating with us, on the other it is blaming us," he said. The HAAB president said the government is yet to take any initiative to hold inter-ministerial meeting to discuss on hajj issue. When asked if some members of HAAB are alluring the pilgrims by offering lower rate, he said that he was informed about the matter. "As we came to know of it, HAAB started investigating the matter," he said.

-The Independent