ZCZC
BSS-20
CABINET-HAJJ PACKAGE (Rpt with correction in 4th para)
Cabinet okays hajj policy and package
DHAKA, Feb 11, 2019 (BSS) – The cabinet today approved the National Hajj
and Umrah Policy 2019 and the Hajj Package, 2019.
The approval was given in the weekly meeting of the cabinet held at Prime
Minister’s Office (PMO) with Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina in the chair.
Cabinet Secretary Md. Shafiul Alam briefed reporters about the decision of
the cabinet meeting at Bangladesh Secretariat here.
The cabinet secretary said a total of 1,27,198 pilgrims will perform hajj
this year of the number 1,20,000 would go under private management (Eds:
correct), will perform hajj this year. Validity of the passport of hajj
pilgrims should not expire before February 10, 2020.
The government would send hajj pilgrims to Saudi Arabia under two packages.
Total cost of first package has been fixed at Taka 4,18,500 including airfare
of Taka 1,28,000, while cost of the second package would be Taka 3,44,000.
Every hajj pilgrim intending to avail train services have to pay additional
Taka 24,981, while others have to pay Taka 19,025 as service charges.
Every private hajj agency can send minimum 150 and maximum 300 pilgrims to
perform hajj this year which is likely to be held on August 10, 2019 subject
to moon sighting in Saudi Arabia.
Under the package, the cabinet secretary said, a flight cannot carry
pilgrims of more than three agencies. The expenditure of ‘Kurbani’ should be
sent through Islamic Development Bank (IDB). This year the Saudi government
enhanced the cost of ‘Kurbani’ to 525 Riyal which was 475 Riyal last year, he
said adding that every hajj pilgrims must keep a 68 Riyal bank guarantee in
favour of Saudi Hajj Ministry.
A Muslim who performed hajj more than two times or missed hajj even after
getting visa, must give additional charge of 2,100 Riyal as penalty imposed
by Saudi government.
According to the National Hajj and Umrah Policy 2019, the cabinet secretary
said all hajj pilgrims must show national identity card or birth registration
certificate to verify date of birth.
The policy says that all Umrah hajj pilgrims must meet the requirement of
preregistration and Umrah agencies must submit the report on passenger
arrival and departure to the government. A guide will be deputed for every 44
pilgrims instead of 45.
According to the new policy, all hajj agencies must send copies of the
agreements of accommodation of hajj pilgrims before the month of Ramadan. The
policy gives authority to the religious affairs ministry to appoint local
volunteers to take care of the pilgrims.
Air and bus fares of the pilgrims must be paid through pay order in the
name of the concerned airlines.
Under the new policy, the name of a registered pilgrim cannot be dropped
from the list without his/her consent. A pilgrim must be eligible physically,
economically as well as mentally to perform hajj, the new policy said. All
intending pilgrims should pay their house rent, service charges and expenses
of catering online.
According to the policy, the government can recruit hajj guides from Saudi
Arabia and Bangladesh and the recruitment should be completed two months
ahead of the beginning of the hajj flight. The guides must be efficient in
Arabic language and their identity would be verified by the deputy
commissioners.
Animal Welfare Act
The cabinet has given final approval to the “Prani Kalyan Act, 2018″
replacing the previous ‘The Cruelty to Animals Act, 1920”, which defined the
duties of the owner of an animal to show positive and kind behavior and
refrain from showing any cruelty.
The law prohibited unnecessary killing of an animal through applying poison
or keep an animal tightened for 24 hours depriving it from movement.
Violators of the law will be liable to six months of simple imprisonment or
fine of Taka 10,000 or both. However, slaughtering of an animal according to
religious customs and rules would not be considered as a cruelty, the cabinet
secretary said.
The cabinet approved the “Bangladesh Veterinary Council Act, 2018” which
would replace “Bangladesh Veterinary Practitioners Ordinance 1982”, a law
promulgated by the military rulers. The new law is an enlarged form of the
previous ordinance which incorporated the provisions to deal with
professional malpractice of veterinary surgeons.
Under the law, the Veterinary Council would be constituted with 22 members
with representatives from the department of livestock, drug administration,
fisheries department, Bangladesh Agricultural University, Chittagong
Veterinary University, attorney general office and other stakeholders.
The council will have a seven-member advisory committee headed by the
minister of fisheries and livestock. It will include a parliament member
nominated by the Speaker, secretary of the fisheries and livestock ministry
and four registered veterinarians.
The cabinet secretary said the law asked the veterinary practitioner to
perform duties with utmost ethical mindset and renew registration in every
four years. Without any license, a person may be liable to three years’
imprisonment or Taka 2 lakh fine or both.
The cabinet also approved the draft of the Representation of the People
(Amendment) Act, 2019 which has already been promulgated as an ordinance
ahead of general election in 2018. The draft has been approved by the cabinet
to make it a law.
The cabinet also approved the draft of the Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur
Rahman Aviation and Aerospace University Act, 2019, which was promulgated as
an ordinance in 2018 to start the functions of the university. The draft of
the act has been approved by the cabinet paving way for parliament’s
approval.
BSS/AKH/BR/1820