THE Ministry for Religious Affairs has made pre-registration of intended Hajj pilgrims mandatory this year and it will begin on March 23. As per a news reports on Monday, out of 1,01,758 to be allowed over 10,000 people will go under government arrangement this year while remaining 91,758 will avail private arrangement. Although pilgrims’ plights are increasing as the years pass, many believe that the new move for pre-registration might deepen the people’s predicaments and it calls for serious attention from the authorities concerned to ponder once again whether such registration will really benefit the people.
It is an open secret that irregularities and mismanagement are common predicament that cause huge miseries to the pilgrims. Each year several hundred non-ballotee pilgrims remain stranded at the hajj camp, waiting to the last moment not knowing whether their wish for pilgrimage will be fulfilled. Their plights as flight schedules go awry are beyond imagination. Every year the authority concerned says that Bangladeshi pilgrims will perform their Hajj safely compared to any time in the past. But pilgrims suffer pains and new miseries repeatedly while performing the Hajj.
There are many other problems such as there is chaos at the Hajj camp to stay safe and comfortable. Mosquito menace and lack of adequate toilet facilities are there. It is extremely unhygienic. What is particularly regrettable is the fact that these men and women have been invited to stay at the camp, yet the treatment that they receive is not of the kind that a man on a holy mission would expect.
In addition, Hajj agents cheat the pilgrims, charge extra residential fees and provide them with low quality food. Even some Hajj agencies are found guilty of trafficking Bangladeshi nationals damaging the country’s image. In 2015 out of 46 Hajj agencies, around 10 to 12 were accused of human trafficking. Moreover many did not return. In 2012, the Saudi authority banned 14 Hajj agencies for their involvement in the crime.
It is appalling to see the poor quality of management of the entire Hajj program by government. The crush and stampede that struck the Hajj last year in Saudi Arabia killed at least 2,177 pilgrims. This risk is to be borne by the pilgrims. Hajj pilgrims are forced to buy plane tickets at staggering price. The government machinery are highly corrupt as well as irresponsible although more than thousand government officials accompany the pilgrims to look after their welfare. Most pilgrims invest their entire life savings to perform the holy rite. Government should ensure quality of services, instead of asking people to make preparatory registration. People must know what benefit such registration will bring to them while the government must focus on making the journey safe and at low cost.
