Staff Reporter :
The government has formed a 23-member ‘National Hajj Management Committee led by the Prime Minister to oversee the implementation of the agreements signed under the National Hajj and Umrah Policy, 2018 and coordinate the hajj activities.
The committee has also incorporated two Ministers, Cabinet Secretary, Principal Secretary to the Prime Minister, 11 secretaries, Hajj Agencies Association of Bangladesh (HAAB) leaders and other high officials of the government.
The committee will oversee the implementation of the agreements and coordinate the hajj management activities in Bangladesh and Saudi Arabia, according to a government notification, signed by Religious Affairs Ministry’s Joint Secretary Dr. Abu Saleh Mostafa Kamal, issued on July 2 this year. According to the notification, Ministers for Religious Affairs and Civil Aviation and Tourism, Cabinet Secretary and Principal Secretary to the Prime Minister will be its member. Religious Affairs Ministry’s Joint Secretary (Hajj) will act as its member secretary.
The secretaries, who were included as its member, are Public Administration, Local Government Division, Housing and Public Works, Security Services Division, Public Security Division, Information, Health Services Division, Religious Affairs, Health Education and Family Welfare Division, Foreign Affairs and Civil Aviation and Tourism.
President and Secretary General of the Hajj Agencies Association of Bangladesh (HAAB), the apex body of the Hajj agencies, will be members. The chief executive officer (CEO) of Dhaka North City Corporation, Director General of National Security Intelligence (NSI), DG of Islamic Foundation and Director of Ashkona Hajj Office in Dhaka are included on the committee.
The committee has been asked to meet at least once in a year and given the authority to co-opt members in case of necessity.
According to the officials, the committee has been formed under the leadership of the Prime Minister due to the involvement of some important ministries, divisions and other offices in hajj management. It will act as a comprehensive body to act immediately to resolve any crisis, if found during the hajj period.
