66-member Hajj support team to assist Bangladeshi pilgrims

The Ministry of Religious Affairs has formed a 66-member Hajj administrative support team to assist Bangladeshi pilgrims in Saudi Arabia during this year's Hajj.

The team has been constituted in accordance with Rule 25 of the Hajj and Umrah Management Rules, 2022 (amended), and government approval has been given for their travel to Saudi Arabia, according to a recent order issued by the ministry.

The team includes officials and staff from different levels, such as drivers, office assistants, administrative officers, personal officers, gunmen, accounts officers, computer operators and photocopy operators.

A total of nine drivers have been included in the team. They are Md Alamgir and Aktaruzzaman Sarkar from the minister's office; Md Saidul Islam and Md Titu Mia Bepari from the secretary's office; Md Masudur Rahman and Golam Mawla from the Islamic Foundation (on deputation to the Hajj wing); Md Salah Uddin from the Hajj Office; Md Hasan Ali from the Office of the Administrator of Waqf; and Md Abdus Sabur Biswas from the administration wing.

The team also includes 25 office assistants. Among them are Samrat from the legal wing; Md Anwar Hossain and Md Sohag from the secretary's office; Md Rashedul Islam from the Hajj-2 wing; Elias Ahmed and Mosammat Hafiza Akter from the coordination wing; Md Kamrul Hossain from the budget and grant wing; Tania Akter and Syeda Marzia Rubina from the administration wing; Paruli Aktari and Monirul Islam from the grants wing; Md Nurul Huda from the development wing; Md Ashraful Islam from the Hajj-1 wing; Md Oliullah, Md Arman Hossain and Masum Billal from the adviser's office; Kazi Jewel Mia from the Hajj wing; Saddam Biswas from planning-1; Monir Hossain from administration-1; Muhammad Rashed Miazi from ICT; Sarwar Mahmud from the Hajj division; Sharmin Sultana from the budget wing; Md Alamgir Hossain from Hajj-3; and Tipu Sultan (attached to Islamic Foundation) and Habibur Rahman from the Dhaka Hajj Office.

Two gunmen have been included in the team—Md Abdul Hakim from the secretary's office and Md Abul Kashem from the minister's office.

The Ministry of Religious Affairs forms administrative, support and technical teams every year and sends them to Saudi Arabia at government expense to assist Hajj pilgrims.

Subject to moon sighting, this year's Hajj is expected to be held on 26 May in Saudi Arabia, while Hajj flights are scheduled to begin on 18 April.

Every year, a significant amount of public funds is spent to send such support teams abroad, with the government also bearing their accommodation and other expenses.

However, allegations often arise that some members lack adequate experience, and that some remain engaged in personal activities instead of serving pilgrims.

In recent years, disciplinary actions have been taken against members of such teams over allegations of negligence during Hajj operations.