Owners of the two travel agencies have been barred from traveling abroad as they have disappeared after cheating a total of 523 pilgrims, putting them into uncertainty about their performing hajj this year.
The two travel agencies who cheated the hajj pilgrims are Al-Risan Travels and Dia International. Through Al-Risan Travels, 448 people completed their hajj registration and the rest 75 through Dia International.
The Ministry of Religious Affairs has sent two separate letters to the Ministry of Home Affairs seeking a travel ban on the chairman and managing director of the two agencies. The letters, signed by Senior Assistant Secretary Md. Abu Taher, were issued on Thursday night.
According to one letter, 448 pilgrims have been registered under Al Risan Travels Agency Ltd: (Hajj License Number 0672). No visa has been issued so far to the pilgrims registered through this agency.
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The ministry could not communicate with the managing director of the agency despite several attempts. As a result, it is feared that the pilgrims registered though the agency may be cheated and they are unlikely to perform hajj.
The letter has also said that Managing Director of Al Risan Travels Md. Abdus Salam Miah should be prevented from leaving the country and at the same time, legal action should be taken against him.
Meanwhile, Hajj journey of 75 people registered through Diya International based in Rangpur has also become uncertain. The owner of this agency has taken Tk 3 crore from them through its bank account without coordinating with the ‘Lead’ agency.
In view of this situation, the religious affairs ministry has sought a travel ban on of Dia International Chairman Kamrul Islam and Managing Director Muhammad Ali Babu.
The letter also mentioned that Dia International chairman and managing director have registered 20 pilgrims through Al Iman Hajj Caravan Travels and Tours. But these pilgrims have not yet received their PIDs (Pilgrim ID) due to the non-payment of the registration fee to Al Iman Hajj Caravan Travels and Tours.
