Despite extensive publicity throughout the year, 109 Hajj agencies have not been able to pre-register any pilgrims. The Ministry of Religious Affairs has sought an explanation as to why they have not been able to pre-register.
The Ministry of Religious Affairs sought this explanation from them through a letter sent on Wednesday (November 27).
The letter states that a total of 937 Hajj agencies have already been published for the 2025 Hajj. However, 109 Hajj agencies out of the Hajj agencies published in the approved list do not have any pre-registered pilgrims. In such a situation, these agencies have been instructed to explain by November 28 why they will not be excluded from the eligible list for the Hajj 2025 season for not pre-registering and registering.
Since no pilgrims were found, there is a risk of their names being removed from the approved list. If this situation continues, many Hajj agencies will have to close their offices, say those concerned.
Earlier, the Ministry of Religion sent a letter to 124 Hajj agencies requesting them to quickly pre-register and initial register Hajj pilgrims. The letter said that if Hajj pilgrims are not registered in the 2025 season without a valid reason, administrative action will be taken against the agency.
The exchange of such letters between Hajj agencies and the Ministry of Religion raises the question, is the Hajj-related business sector under threat? If many agencies do not receive Hajj pilgrims year after year, it will be difficult for them to survive.
The owner of an agency in Paltan told Barta24.com on condition of anonymity that he has 11 employees in a travel agency, along with other expenses including the office. The office is now almost empty due to the reduction of employees. As a result, the scope of business is also decreasing.
It is known that the agencies earn income from everything from Hajj visas to flight tickets, house rent in Makkah and Medina, car rentals, and food for pilgrims, that is, from the overall management. But due to the increase in the value of the Riyal, that is now very uncertain. And since the Hajj quota is not met, the agencies have to operate Hajj activities within the framework of various conditions given by Saudi Arabia. As a result, almost all Hajj agencies are facing business losses.
The owner of an agency in the capital, who has been providing Hajj and Umrah services with a good reputation since 2012, told Barta24.com on condition of anonymity, "We have not been able to turn around like that since Corona. Yet everyone thinks that this business is only about profit."
He said, "Before Corona, 200 to 400 pilgrims used to go to Hajj every year through our agency. But after Corona, last year, we sent 70 pilgrims to Saudi Arabia with great difficulty."
Stating that people are now turning towards Umrah due to the increase in the cost of Hajj, he added, "This time, a new political scenario has been added. Last year, more than 40,000 Hajj quotas were empty, what will happen this time - God knows best."
In 2018 and 2019, another 100,000 Hajj pilgrims were waiting, exceeding the quota of 127,000 set for Bangladeshi Hajj pilgrims. As a result, Bangladesh discussed increasing the Hajj quota with Saudi Arabia. In 2020, 137,191 people from Bangladesh were supposed to go to Hajj. But due to the closure of Hajj for foreigners during the Corona period, later giving Hajj opportunities to limited passengers, and the increase in Hajj costs, the quota set for Bangladesh was no longer fulfilled.
It is known that there are 1,238 Hajj agencies in the country. Of these, 937 Hajj agencies have been approved by the Ministry of Religion to operate so far. The number of officials and employees, including the owners of the agencies, is about 20,000. In addition, about 100,000 more people are indirectly engaged in this profession in Bangladesh and Saudi Arabia.