Cabinet clears draft of Hajj and Umrah Law-2020

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DHAKA, Dec 28, 2020 (BSS) – The Cabinet today approved the draft of
“Hajj and Umrah Management Law-2020” in principle to bring more
discipline in this sector.

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina chaired the regular cabinet meeting,
joining virtually from her official residence Ganabhaban while her
cabinet colleagues attended the meeting at the Bangladesh Secretariat.

Cabinet Secretary Khandker Anwarul Islam briefed the newsmen
emerging from the meeting.

He said the hajj management has been operating through a policy
till the date and that is why the government faces difficulties while
going to take any measure against any agency, as they (agencies) bring
stay order from the High Court challenging any action.

After the enactment of the new law, he said, the government can
bring any hajj and umrah agency under trial in the country even if
they commit any offense in Saudi Arabia.

Mentioning that Saudi Arabia has changed hajj management system in
2011, the cabinet secretary said India, Pakistan, Malaysia and
Indonesia has framed law and that is why Bangladesh needs a legal
structure to equip with their hajj management.

In the new law, he said, none without having registration under the
law could deal any haji (hajj pilgrim) and the registration authority
could take action against anomaly.

According to the proposed law, the registration of any hajj or
umrah agency can be cancelled for anomalies. Besides, a hajj agency
could be fined maximum Taka 50 lakh, while an umrah agency could be
slapped maximum Taka 15 lakh for irregularities, said Khandker
Anwarul.

If any agency gets warning in the two consecutive years, its
registration would automatically be suspended for two years, he added.

Besides, lawsuit can be filed against criminal offenses committed
in Hajj and Umrah management, said the cabinet secretary.

In the law, if any hajj-related anomaly committed even in Saudi
Arabia by Bangladeshi, it could be treated that it happened in
Bangladesh and legal steps including criminal and administrative
actions could be taken in the country, he said.

He mentioned that the Religious Affairs Ministry placed the bill in
the Cabinet in line with a directive of the Cabinet issued in 2012 in
order to enact a law instead of the existing policy.