Chief Adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus today instructed the authorities concerned to launch the 'Hajj Management Centre' to make the Hajj pilgrimage easy, beautiful and safe and to provide round-the-clock services for the pilgrims.
He came up with this instruction at a meeting of the National Committee on Hajj Management at the State Guest House Jamuna here at 5 pm.
The Chief Advisor said: "Almighty Allah has given us all an opportunity to make the holy Hajj easier; we should utilise this opportunity. Efforts should be made to ensure that not a single pilgrim faces any kind of suffering."
There are 1,275 hajj agencies having license in the country. Of those, 941 are agencies eligible for Hajj activities, while 753 agencies register pilgrims and 70 are lead agencies.
The Chief Adviser ordered to clearly write down the responsibilities of these agencies and publish those in the form of a booklet and online.
Noting that the government's responsibility is to ensure that the agencies perform their duties properly, and take strict action if they do not perform their due duties, he said the entire Hajj process should be simple and clear.
"What is the government's responsibility and what is the agencies' responsibility should be clearly written," he added.
Prof Yunus said there should be clear guidelines on what to do if someone gets lost, falls ill, loses luggage or faces any other problem during hajj and to whom they would inform.
This booklet should be given to each Hajj pilgrim, he said, adding it should also mention what steps will be taken with greater importance in the case of women and children.
He said the Hajj Management Centre should be set up in the country so that services can be ensured through continuous monitoring from Bangladesh.
The Chief Adviser said the complaints the call centre would receive should be monitored immediately from here.
He stressed the need for launching a website where all Hajj pilgrims will be connected so that they can report their complaints.
If someone gets lost, their location can be tracked through the website, he said.
Prof Yunus ordered the authorities to monitor what types of complaints the call centre is receiving aiming to decide future action plans.
"The types of complaints coming in should be recorded. There should be information on how many of those have been resolved and there should have information on how many have not. We should discuss and take proper steps so that these complaints do not come up next year," he said.
Besides, the chief adviser directed to cancel licenses of hajj agencies failing to fulfill its responsibilities.
The agencies should be reviewed based on the experience of the hajj pilgrims and it should be monitored whether the agencies have training or not, he said.
"The agencies should be categorised into 'A', 'B', 'C' and 'D' based on the training of their staff. Cancel the licenses of the agencies that fail to meet the standard of these categories," he said.
Prof Yunus also ordered making topic-based videos so that the hajj pilgrims can be aware of what to do in any situation and do not gets confused.
He said, "Those should be problem-solving videos. If the pilgrims are shown videos on what to do if they get sick, get lost, or have any problems while offering the sacrifice...they will be able to be prepared."
In addition, the chief adviser suggested introducing Hajj credit cards from next year and copying and listing the tags for luggage management.
He said if the Hajj credit cards are introduced, the suffering of the hajj pilgrims will be reduced.
"After returning home, the money left on the card will be refunded in cash. Incidents of luggage loss often occur. That is why the tag can be copied after check-in. There will be a list of luggage tags at the management centre."
This year, 5,200 people have registered for Hajj under government management while 81,900 people under private management. The interim government has decided not to send anyone to Hajj at government expense this year.
Religious Affairs Adviser Dr AFM Khalid Hossain was present at the meeting.
Principal Secretary to the Chief Adviser, secretaries of the Ministry of Religious Affairs, Ministry of Home Affairs, Ministry of Public Administration, Ministry of Local Government, Ministry of Housing and Public Works, Ministry of Finance, Health Services Division, Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, Ministry of Civil Aviation and Tourism were present, among others.