The Ministry of Religious Affairs in Bangladesh has requested the Ministry of Home Affairs to impose a travel ban on the chairman and managing director of two travel agencies, Al-Risan Travels and Dia International, for allegedly absconding with funds from 523 Hajj pilgrims.
Al-Risan Travels registered 448 pilgrims for the Hajj pilgrimage but failed to secure visas for any of them. The agency’s managing director has been unreachable, raising concerns that the pilgrims may have been defrauded.
Dia International, based in Rangpur, collected Tk 3 crore from 75 pilgrims but failed to coordinate with the ‘Lead’ agency. As a result, these pilgrims have not received their PIDs (Pilgrim ID). The agency’s owner and managing director are also accused of collecting funds from 20 pilgrims through Al Iman Hajj Caravan Travels and Tours without paying the registration fees to the latter agency.
The Ministry of Religious Affairs has expressed concern over the fate of the pilgrims affected by the alleged fraud and has urged the Ministry of Home Affairs to take swift action against the responsible individuals.
The travel ban is expected to prevent the owners of Al-Risan Travels and Dia International from fleeing the country and evading prosecution.
