Make Hajj policy public

They also underscored the need for coordination among the concerned ministries in order to help the Bangladeshi pilgrims perform their Hajj easily.

The roundtable was organised by the daily Amar Desh at the National Press Club in the city.

The speakers said a large number of the Hajj pilgrims are mainly rural people and they do not know the norms and code of conducts after going to Makkah, which often causes difficulties for them.

They urged the Ministry of Religious Affairs to initiate a briefing programme about the code of conducts for the Hajj pilgrims at all the mosques in the country prior to the Hajj so that the pilgrims may know the code of conducts.

They also said the media can play an important role to make the pilgrims aware by disseminating information about the Hajj.

They also suggested that the ministry should launch training programmes for the pilgrims at the district level.

Dr M Shamsher Ali, VC of South-East University, demonstrated the difficulties that the pilgrims face during their Hajj period.

Mohammad Mafizur Rahman of Darus Sunnah Islamia Complex said the Bangladeshi pilgrims are still facing many difficulties, including housing, transportation and health services problems.

Justice Muhammad Abdur Rauf said though the neighbouring countries have a lot of volunteers, who guide the pilgrims, the number of volunteers for Bangladesh is a few.

He urged the government to make the Hajj policy a public.

Speaking at the roundtable as the chief guest, Mosharref Hossain Shahjahan, state minister for religious affairs, said the Hajj policy will be made public soon.

He underscored the need for increasing manpower at Bangladesh mission in Saudi Arabia to get a better service.

Ataus Samad, advisory editor of the Amar Desh, and representatives of the Hajj Agencies Association of Bangladesh (Haab) also spoke on the occasion.