Hajj agencies
In the year 2008 the undersigned and his wife performed Hajj. We used a private agency about whom we heard many good things. But to our utter disappointment we found that the agencies were more involved in business (making money) rather than looking after the Hajjis. I would mention one incident which is an evidence of their activities.
They arranged our flight on the Saudi Arabian airlines. We left Dhaka for Hajj on 2 November 2008 afternoon and reached Jeddah on 3 November. During our departure we came to know that our return flight was on 18 December 2008. Earlier, the agency had said that they would be able to bring us back by 12 December. Since our departure from Dhaka different officials of the agency kept on verbally assuring that we would be returning on 12 December 2008. But they did not provide us the return ticket or any travel documents.
On 10 December 2008, the day we completed all Hajj rituals, we were told to get ready as our flight was on Bangladesh Biman in the early morning of 11 December 2008. We were a little surprised that we had been put on Bangladesh Biman although we came by Saudi Arabian Airlines.
Accordingly, we were put on to a bus with other Hajjis travelling on 11 December Biman flight. At the Jeddah Hajj terminal we were given two tickets of Bangladesh Biman under different names. We were totally shocked to see the tickets. We were not allowed to board the plane and were stranded at the airport!
Is that how the pilgrims should be treated?
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