HAAB EGM defers over depositing Hajj fees

প্রকাশিত: 14 April 2016, 8:04:27 pm

The Hajj Agencies Association of Bangladesh (HAAB) on Tuesday postponed its Extra-ordinary General Meeting (EGM) on depositing the pilgrims’ Hajj fees to HAAB account.

The meeting was scheduled for April 19.

The decision was taken after a joint meeting of leaders and senior members of HAAB and Association of Travel Agencies of Bangladesh (ATAB) on Tuesday in the city.

HAAB leaders faced strong criticism and resistance from the participants for the decision that was termed ‘illegal’ and ‘violation of the government’s Hajj and Umrah Policy,’ sources said.

HAAB President Ibrahim Bahar chaired the meeting while its Secretary General Shaikh Abdullah, Vice President Farid Ahmed Majumder, former President Jamal Uddin Ahmed and Secretary General Yakub Ali Sarafati and ATAB President Manjur Morshed Mahbub and Vice President Tajul Islam Daroga spoke the occasion.

In the beginning, HAAB leaders sought opinion from the participants about its decision of depositing pilgrim fees to HAAB account for a period to confirm that the Hajj agencies are taking Tk 3, 04,903 of full Hajj package from the pilgrims.
ATAB President Mahbub and HAAB leaders Jamal Uddin and Yakub Sarafati opposed the decision and criticized the leaders for misusing the fund of pilgrims deposited in HAAB account earlier for sending additional 5,000 pilgrims to Saudi Arabia last year.

Mahbub, also a HAAB member, said HAAB is not a trade body, but an association for the Hajj agencies. So, it should not deposit Hajj fees to HAAB account. It should be deposited in the Hajj agency accounts and HAAB only certify the government for its clearance.

“If the decision is taken, it will be illegal, illogical and violation of the government’s Hajj policy. HAAB should start diplomatic step to ensure extra quota for the additional 40,000 pilgrims registered in last few days after reopening the pre-registration from April 4 this year,” Mahbub added.

HAAB members and owners of Hajj agencies also refused to deposit their pilgrims’ Hajj fees to HAAB account.