DHAKA, 6 February 2003 — Forty-eight Bangladeshi pilgrims allegedly cheated out of trip to Makkah by a crooked travel agent started their pilgrimage yesterday with help from Prime Minister Khaleda Zia.
“I am happy to inform that all 48 pilgrims are already on their way to Makkah under government arrangement,” Junior Minister for Civil Aviation Mir Mohammad Nasiruddin told the parliament. The government will also ensure they are able to come home, he said.
The pilgrims, from across the country, held a demonstration Tuesday to appeal to Zia for help after they were allegedly left stranded by their travel agent. They said the agent had not made arrangements for them to get to Saudi Arabia and had not returned about 5.5 million taka ($91,666) they had paid for the trip. The agent has been arrested.
Meanwhile, former Bangladesh Prime Minister Hasina Wajed arrived in Jeddah last night. She will perform Haj as a royal guest. Hasina was received by members of the local Bangladeshi community, including Dr. Muhammad Abdur Rahman, president of the local chapter of Bangladesh Awami Porishod. She is due to return home on Feb. 25.
