'Agencies have to take responsibility of sending hajjis'

Staff Correspondent: Civil Aviation and Tourism Minister Rashed Khan Menon said that the hajj agencies will have to take responsibility of sending hajjis with visas to Saudi Arabia.

The minister made the opinion while addressing an emergency meeting over hajj management at Biman Bangladesh Airlines office in city's Kurmitola on Monday.

He said that the government has adopted comprehensive initiative to ensure smooth management of hajj flight and would not tolerate any kind of negligence in this regard.

Rashed Khan Menon also said that passports of around 15 thousands hajj pilgrims are yet to be submitted for visa and 16 hajj agencies have not send a single hajj pilgrims till now.

"Biman was forced to cancel 22 dedicated hajj flights so far due to lack of passengers, which has incurred financial loss and caused image crisis for the national flag carrier," he added.

A total of 62,547 hajj pilgrims have already left the country for Jeddha by Biman Bangladesh and Saudia Airlines to perform hajj.

Of the pilgrims, Biman Bangladesh Airlines carried 29,373 and Saudia Airlines 33,135 pilgrims.

Civil Aviation and Tourism Secretary S.M. Ghulam Farooque, Biman Board Chairman Air Marshal (retd) Enamul bari, additional secretary of the ministry AHM Ziaul Haque and Managing Director of Biman Bangladesh Airlines Mosaddek Ahmed, were present on the occasion, among others.



risingbd/Dhaka/Aug 14, 2017/Hasan/Nasim