Bangladesh
Hajj-Umrah Law Cabinet approves draft of Hajj and Umrah Management Law-2020
Dhaka, December 28: The government is enacting Hajj and Umrah management law instead of policies. Therefore, the cabinet has approved the draft of Hajj and Umrah Management Law-2020. The approval was given at a virtual cabinet meeting chaired by Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Monday (December 28).
After the meeting, Cabinet Secretary Khandaker Anwarul Islam said this at a press briefing.
He said, ‘Until now, the management of Hajj was done through a policy. There were some difficulties in following the policy, no action could be taken. If they had taken some action, they (Hajj and Umrah agencies) would have gone to the High Court again and filed a writ petition against them."
The cabinet secretary added, "In 2011, Saudi Arabia changed the management of Total Hajj. Pakistan, Malaysia, Indonesia have also made laws now. We need a legal framework to keep pace with Hajj management. There was also a directive from the cabinet in 2012 that a law should be introduced instead of a policy on Hajj management. That is what the Ministry of Religious Affairs has brought today."
The Cabinet Secretary said that the government would be responsible for the management of Hajj and Umrah in fulfilling the objectives of the law. Under this law, no one can handle any pilgrim or any person of Hajj without registration.
"If the registration authority sees someone committing irregularities, it can take action against the Hajj and Umrah agency through proper investigation and hearing. The government will set up an emergency fund to meet the unforeseen expenses of the pilgrims in case of any mishap, death, accident or emergency."
He said, "If anyone goes to that country (Saudi Arabia) after the Hajj agreement is signed, it will be considered as a crime committed here. In that case criminal or legal or administrative action can be taken against him. It is an important thing in this Hajj law. They are cheating there, they (Hajj and Umrah agencies) used to take benefits a lot of the time for what would happen then. It is covered by the law."
