Saudi Arabia yet to compensate Bangladeshi victims

Although two months have passed, Saudi Arabia is yet to compensate the Bangladeshis who were killed and injured in a deadly stampede during Hajj this year, Religious Affairs Minister Motiur Rahman told parliament last evening.

Replying to lawmakers' queries, he said Bangladesh's government had not taken any decision on claiming compensation from the Saudi government.

In another reply, Motiur Rahman said Bangladesh's image and interest were being affected abroad since some Hajj pilgrims did not return to the country after completion of Hajj.

"The government is taking measures in the light of the national Hajj and Umra policy to prevent such illegal practices," the minister said in a scripted reply.

In the September 24 stampede, several thousand pilgrims died and scores were injured after two large crowds of pilgrims, who were on their way to participate in the symbolic stoning of Satan, an annual Hajj ritual, collided in Mina.

The Saudi authority at that time announced to compensate the deceased and the injured.

In the scripted reply, the religious minister said 1.06 lakh Bangladeshis performed Hajj this year, and of them 144 died in the Mina tragedy while another Hajji died in a crane crash.

Meanwhile, Health Minister Mohammad Nasim told the House that the government was determined to reduce the child mortality rate to 20 per thousand from existing 46 per thousand by 2035.