2024-05-10 08:06:45
Pointing out that the Awami League government has been able to gradually improve the Hajj management, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina said, because of this, all of you can go for Hajj today, it has become easier.
He said this while addressing the chief guest at the inauguration of the ‘Hajj Program 2024’ organized by the Ministry of Religion at the Ashkona Hajcamp adjacent to the Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport in the capital on Wednesday (May 8).
The Prime Minister said, I will say that today we have improved the management of Hajj, every time there is a problem with those who are going; Taking steps to improve it. And in this regard, the Saudi government is always supporting us.
Expressing sincere thanks to the Saudi King and Crown Prince, he said that with their overall cooperation, the Awami League government has been able to gradually improve the Hajj management.
Sheikh Hasina said, I have made proper improvements to this Haj camp. An underpass is being made from here. Through which a link will be established between Hodgecamp, Airport and Railway Station. There will be vehicles like escalators and golf carts to transport passengers and goods.
Bangabandhukanya also pointed out that the 560 model mosques and Islamic culture centers that her government is establishing across the country have training for Hajids, registration and also training for service providers.
Referring to the government’s steps to improve overall air transport, he said, we can now bring and take Hajj pilgrims in Saudi Airlines as well as in our own aircraft. Today we have managed e-Hajj. Because we have implemented Digital Bangladesh. Our future goal is to build a smart Bangladesh. After that, no more trouble. You will get all arrangements at home. Just get on the plane and leave. We want to do that kind of arrangement.
The Prime Minister said, today we have made all the arrangements to take goods or bring goods from there or bring Zamzam water. Along with setting up Hajj offices in Makkah-Madinah, we have also arranged for our pilgrims to stay there by renting space at the terminal separately in Jeddah. We have taken this system since we came into government and we keep this system in the terminal every year. Because earlier passengers had to sit here and there on the pavement.
Ever since he went to perform the first Umrah in 1984 and Hajj in 1985, he has seen pilgrims staying on the pavement or here and there. There was no place for them to stay, but he tried to remove these mismanagement by writing letters to the Saudi administration, although not in the government, many of which the Saudi administration responded to. He said, after coming to the government, he took steps to implement modern Hajj management.
The Prime Minister said that it is right that Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman made Bangladesh a non-sectarian Bangladesh. But at the same time, he has created an Islamic foundation for the development of Hajj management and serving Islam. Allotment of land for organization and organization of World Ijtema in Bangladesh.
He said that it is up to him to make sure that people have a correct understanding of Islam. After independence, he took these steps within only 3 years and 7 months. Recitation of Qur’an on radio-television, giving holidays on Eid Miladunnabi – all these things have been done by the father of the nation. That is, respecting the religious sentiments of the people of this country, he made arrangements so that everyone could practice religion easily.
At this time, the Prime Minister also mentioned that the development of the country today has been possible with the cooperation of all the countrymen.
In this country, everyone should practice their religion, the religion of peace is Islam and our Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) has taught us that, so no one should do such an act to hurt our religious sentiments.
Advising them to refrain from alcohol, gambling, corruption, terrorism and militancy, he said, “It is sad that a handful of people give the name of our holy religion bad name by doing terrorism and militancy.”
Sheikh Hasina said, I protest against it all the time. Because we want to believe in peace. I want to develop people.
Minister of Religion Asaduzzaman Khan, Minister of Civil Aviation and Tourism, Muhammad Farooq Khan, Mayor of Dhaka North City Corporation as special guests in the program under the chairmanship of Faridul Haque Khan. Atiqul Islam, President of the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Ministry of Religion Mohammad Hushamuddin Chowdhury and Saudi Ambassador to Bangladesh Isa Yusuf Isa Al Duhailan spoke.
Hajj Agency Association Bangladesh (HAB) President M Shahadat Hossain Taslim and Secretary of the Ministry of Religion Mu. A. Hamid Jamaddar also spoke. Two pilgrims also expressed their own expression on the occasion.
At the beginning of the program, an audio-visual presentation on Hajj management in 2024 was shown and at the end, a special prayer was offered for the overall well-being of the nation and the Haj pilgrims.
A total of 85 thousand 257 Bangladeshis can perform Hajj this year. Out of them 4 thousand 562 will perform Haj under government management and remaining 80 thousand 695 under private management.
Hajj flights with Bangladeshi pilgrims are scheduled to start from Thursday this year. The first Hajj flight BG-3301 from Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport will depart for Jeddah, Saudi Arabia at 7:20 am with 419 passengers.