State-funded Hajj limited to religious affairs ministry officials only: Adviser Khalid
The ministry has already formed various monitoring and administrative teams ahead of the Hajj, he says
Only officials from the Ministry of Religious Affairs (MoRA) involved in Hajj management will be allowed to perform Hajj at state expense this year, Religious Affairs Adviser Dr AFM Khalid Hossain said today (12 April).
"This is a record breaking decision as we are still strict on the decision by turning down all pressure," he said while briefing reporters after a function.
Muslim Nikah Register Forum arranged the views exchange meeting at Kamrul Islam Siddiqui Auditorium at LGED Bhaban in the city.
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Regarding this year's Hajj policy and Hajj management, he said in accordance with the high level government decision, his ministry will not take bigger number of officials from the MoRA like in the past.
"This year we will send only those who are related with Hajj management and those who went last year with Hajj mission, will not be able to go this time," the adviser pointed out.
He said, "The ministry has brought significant changes in the Hajj management for 2025. Already, 54 of our licensed agencies have collected Hajj pilgrims. According to the rules of the Saudi government, an agency has to collect 2,000 Hajj pilgrims. I have discussed this with the Saudi minister of hajj and umrah and reduced it to 1,000".
He said a total of 70 lead agencies have been enlisted and they are allowed to send 87,000 pilgrims under private management while 5,200 pilgrims will go under government management.
The religious advisor said his ministry has already formed various monitoring and administrative teams ahead of the Hajj.
He said the government has already signed agreements with several specialised hospitals for providing necessary treatment to the Hajj pilgrims.
Speaking at the meeting as the chief guest, Khalid Hossain said, "Dowry is a social curse. So, demanding or taking dowry is same criminal offence."
The adviser called upon all including religious leaders, imams and khatibs of mosques, marriage registers to motivate and aware people against dowry culture.
The adviser asked the marriage registers to comply with the rule and regulations and stop collecting excess fees.
He also requested them to keep the Bangladesh Muslim Nikah Registrar Forum above all politics so that their members could serve the people fairly and impartially.
Forum President Kazi Syed Muhammad Abu Syed presided over the function while Additional District Magistrate Syed Mahbubul Haque and LGED Executive Engineer (Ctg Region) Mohammad Hasan Ali, among others, addressed the function.
