HC asks foreign ministry to resolve hajj visa chaos in 48 hours

The High Court has directed the foreign ministry to communicate with the Saudi Arabian government to resolve the visa complexities in 48 hours for smooth journey of hajj pilgrims.

A bench of Justice Syed Muhammad Dastagir Husain and Justice Md Ataur Rahman Khan came up with the order and rule following a writ petition filed by Human Rights and Peace for Bangladesh (HRPB).

The court also ordered sending those intending hajj pilgrims who are yet to reach Saudi Arabia for performing hajj after hiring private aircraft, if needed.

The court issued a rule asking the authorities concerned to explain as to why probe commission would not be formed to identify the people behind the hajj mismanagement.

Besides, the court issued another rule to explain why government's inaction in hajj management would not be declared illegal and unlawful.

The court also issued a rule asking the relevant authorities to explain why legal actions would not be taken against the people behind the mismanagement.

Five government officials, including the secretaries of Religious Affairs Ministry, Foreign Affairs Ministry and Civil Aviation and Tourism Ministry, have been asked to respond to the rule within four weeks.

Earlier, a writ petition was filed with the High Court (HC) seeking its order to form a probe body to find out the reasons behind the mismanagement of hajj flights operated by Bangladesh Biman.

HC lawyer advocate Munjil Morshed filed the public interest litigation writ petition making five government officials, including the secretaries of Religious Affairs Ministry, Foreign Affairs Ministry and Civil Aviation and Tourism Ministry, defendants.

The writ also sought a court directive to solve the visa crisis within 48 hours through communicating with the Saudi Arabia embassy in Dhaka.

So far, around 5,000 hajj pilgrims have failed to fly to Saudi Arabia to perform hajj this year following cancellations of 21 hajj flights of Bangladesh Biman due to shortage of passengers triggered by visa complexities.

Source: dailysun