Hajjis suffer due to pvt, govt operators' 'mismanagement'

A total of 1,053 Hajjis suffered immensely due to delay of Biman Bangladesh hajj flight while returning to Dhaka from Saudi Arabia, thanks to the mismanagement and irresponsibility of private and government Hajj operators.

A top official of Biman Bangladesh Airlines held the Hajj guides irresponsible for the delay in the hajj flights, which could not fly timely as they failed to take the Hajjis to Saudi Arabia airports on time.

The first return Hajj flight of Biman Bangladesh Airlines arrived in Dhaka around 3:00am today nearly six hours behind schedule, causing sufferings to the pilgrims. The flight was scheduled to reach Dhaka at 8:40pm yesterday.

Meanwhile, the second and third flights of the national flag carrier carrying 317 each landed at the Shahjalal International Airport at 9:20am and 1:10pm respectively. They were supposed to reach Dhaka five to six hours before, according to an official of the Biman Bangladesh (flight operation).

Several Hajjis who performed Hajj under the government management and arrived here today talked about their sufferings with The Daily Star. They said it was totally unacceptable that they had to wait seven to eight hours at Jeddah airport for returning to Bangladesh.

Hajji Anis Alamgir hailing from Pabna said, "Our Hajj agency failed to send vehicle to the hotel timely to take us to the airport in Saudi Arabia."

Another hajji Anisa Raihan alleged that their Hajj guide (Moallem) sent vehicles to pick them up around seven hours after the scheduled time.

Preferring anonymity, another Hajj pilgrim said quality of the hotels and services did not match with the promise of the government hajj operator.