Dhaka, Sep 05 (V7N)- Religious Affairs Minister Kazi Shah Mofazzal Hossain Kaikobad has said that regular communication is being maintained with the Saudi government to ensure smooth registration and management of Hajj.
He made the remarks at an award ceremony for the best Hajj guides on Saturday (September 5).
The minister said the government is working to further strengthen bilateral relations with Saudi Arabia while addressing various problems faced by Bangladeshi pilgrims.
Referring to the previous Hajj season, Kaikobad said two pilgrims could not travel to Saudi Arabia on time because of mismanagement by an agency. Later, with the cooperation of police, the National Security Intelligence (NSI) and other law enforcement agencies, the two pilgrims were sent to perform Hajj. He described the initiative as a positive example of coordinated efforts.
Regarding services for pilgrims, the minister said the government provided 100,000 bottles of water free of charge during the last Hajj. He added that pilgrims were not required to pay for luggage wrapping, as the entire process was managed by the government.
Kaikobad urged Hajj guides to further improve the quality of their services. He said better performance by the guides would create more opportunities for them in the future, along with larger-scale recognition and rewards.
This year, the best Hajj guides received a prize of Tk 500,000. The Religious Affairs Minister said the prize money would be increased further in the future.
He also said that no pilgrim's luggage was lost this year because of proper management.
At the event, Religious Affairs Ministry Secretary Munshi Alauddin Al Azad said the ministry would hand over the money saved from Hajj-related activities to the government the following day.
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