DHAKA: Government on Thursday punished a total of 208 hajj agencies on charges of irregularities and mismanagement including human trafficking and cheating with the pilgrims.

Ministry of Religious Affair secretary Choudhury Babul Hasan revealed these at a press conference at the Secretariat in the city.

The charges including human trafficking in guise of hajj – not to return pilgrims home after performing Hajj, not to arrange transportation, inadequate and substandard accommodation, providing insufficient guidance, poor quality food and not to send the Hajjis after taking money were found against the agencies.

The ministry formed a probe committee to investigate into the allegations that were brought against the agencies during last year hajj.

The committee conducted hearing on some 217 accused agencies from April 4 to April 6, almost every charge brought against them have been proved.

In addition, Saudi Arabia recommended punishment to 40 more agencies raising allegations, said the sources of the ministry.

Ministry deputy-secretary (Hajj) Jahangir Alam told banglanews, “Evidences of irregularities against 217 agencies have been found.”

The sources said some 4/5 agencies were punished on severe charge of human trafficking – not to bring back some 20 percent pilgrims home after Hajj, their licenses have been cancelled and TK 10 lakhs were fined each.

Rests of the agencies were penalized like canceling licenses, realizing fines and cutting surety money for other charges, added the sources.

BDST: 1243 HRS APR 24, 2014