|
|
Assalamu Alaikum Wa Rahmatullah e Alahi | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Welcome to our office in the cyber space. Ministry of Religious Affairs, Government of the People’s Republic of Bangladesh has launched this site to provide round the clock information on HAJJ to the pilgrims, their family members, media, related public and private organisations. This site is also equipped to provide certain services during HAJJ. What are those services? A quick tour of the site would familiarize you with all the available services. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Ministry of Religious Affairs Bangladesh is the third largest Muslim country of the world. Hajj has been an important duty in the life calendar of every capable Muslim since the advent of Islam in our country. In the earlier days Muslims from Bangladesh traveled on foot, by boat, steam ship to reach the holy land of Makkah, Medina and Arafa to perform Holy HAJJ. The advent of air travel has made the journey quick and easy. All Governments of the day supported the pilgrims in discharge of their life-long ambition to perform Hajj. Presently Ministry of Religious Affairs (MORA) under Government of Bangladesh is responsible for management of Hajj of all Bangladeshi pilgrims. The Hajj Offices at Dhaka, Makkah, Medina, and Jeddah organise Hajj under control and supervision of MORA. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Hajj Management Hajj Management includes selection and registration of Hajjes, hiring of accommodation in Makkah & Medina, arrangement of air tickets, issuance of pilgrim pass and visa, immigration, medical checkup, security clearance, pre-departure accommodation of pilgrims and grievance resolution etc. The Hajj Office does all these works with the help of different Govt. agencies at their permanent Hajj Camp at Uttara, Dhaka. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Hajj Policy, Law, Rules All the above activities are made in accordance with Pilgrims Manual (last printed in 1938), bilateral agreement between Bangladesh and Saudi Arabia, Annual Hajj policy, rules, administrative orders, circulars, notifications etc. issued by the government from time to time. The Annual Hajj Policy covers plans, cost, and procedures for performance of Hajj by Bangladeshi pilgrims. The policy is operationalised after approval in the cabinet. Following approval of the Hajj Policy, bilateral agreement between Saudi Arabia and Bangladesh is annually signed. A comprehensive review takes place at the end of each Hajj by the both Governments. The recommendations of the review help to frame Hajj policy and bilateral agreement for the next season. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| The Hajj Offices The Hajj Offices generally among others are responsible for:
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| The New Hajj Camp The Hajj office is located at a new 400 million Taka building at Askona Dhaka, which is about 200-300 meters east of ZIA International Airport, Dhaka. The elegant 4-storied building is on a 5 acre land combines Islamic and modern architecture in a eco-friendly landscape. The building is equipped with all modern facilities to give any visitor confidence in the professional service delivery by Hajj Management of Bangladesh. In addition to the administrative block, a specious mosque to accommodate 3000 devotees at a time, a 2500 bed hostel and scores of restaurant are located here. The premise also provides accommodation for Banks, Airlines, Immigration, Medical camp and a host of utilities and emergency service organisations. Comparable facilities also exist in Bangladesh Hajj Offices in Saudi Arabia | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Recent Developments In line with government policy of modernizing all sectors of the government, new management process has been introduced in 2001. Presently all pilgrims are organised in two categories – Ballotee and Non-ballotee. The government makes all arrangements for ballotee Hajjes and approved private Hajj agencies organise Hajj of all Non-ballotee Hajjes. MORA regularly with the help of Hajj offices monitors activities of the 124 private Hajj agencies. Presently the pilgrims are interested to perform Hajj under privately managed Hajj agencies. This would be evident from the following statistics:
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Information Technology in Hajj Management Under the new Hajj management the newly installed Government in October 2001 decided to modernize and upgrade the present system through introduction of Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) in Hajj Management. In January 2002 government supported HUB (National association of Government approved private Hajj agencies) in introducing IT in the management of Hajj. A IT support set-up under private initiative was inaugurated by Hon’ble Prime Minister on 23rd January 2002. The experience gained in the above efforts were examined by MORA and it was found that introduction of IT in the Hajj management would greatly enhance the current efforts toward providing better services to the Hajjes, increase government monitoring of activities of private Hajj agencies, increase opportunities to communicate by the Hajjes with their relatives at home and abroad. Ministry of Religious Affairs has now appointed a reputed IT firm HATIL IT to develop a computer based Hajj Information System which has started functioning from 2nd week of December 2002. The present site is one of the achievements of the said firm. What can we offer to the Bangladeshi pilgrims under the new initiative? Interested to know!!! Surf in www.bdhajjinfo.org. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||