RESTRICTIONS CURB BANGLADESHIS HAJJ DREAM
Dhaka, 17 Dzulqa’idah 1434/23 September 2013 (MINA) – As world Muslims embark on hajj, a fewer number of Bangladeshi Muslims will have the chance to fulfill the soul-searching journey this year due to increasing restrictions imposed by both Bangladesh and the Saudi governments.
“Eagerness of Hajj is high among Bangladeshi people, but due to high cost, they are not fulfilling their desire,” Maulana Aminul Islam, an Islamic thinker, Onislam quoted by Mi’raj News Agency (MINA)as reporting.
“If Bangladesh Government has taken the initiative to open land and waterways, then hajj pilgrims will increase every year.”
Charging their spiritual batteries, thousands of Bangladesh pilgrims have been preparing for the life-time journey next month.
According to official numbers, Bangladesh Hajj quota is 130 thousand in 2013.
Yet, this quota will not be fulfilled this year due to some restrictions, government obstacles and political unrest, leaving 40 thousand of Bangladesh quotas vacant this year.
The Saudi Arabian government approved 120,000 Bangladeshi pilgrims; but later the Saudi authorities requested Bangladesh to reduce the number of devotees by 20%, Secretary of the Religious Affairs Kazi Habibul Awal said.
Accordingly, only 89,179 Bangladeshis will perform Hajj this year, a small of porition of who, only 1,589, will travel and perform the holy pilgrimage under government management.
Millions of Muslims from around the world pour into Makkah every year to perform hajj, one of the five pillars of Islam.
Hajj consists of several ceremonies, which are meant to symbolize the essential concepts of the Islamic faith, and to commemorate the trials of Prophet Abraham and his family.
Every able-bodied adult Muslim who can financially afford the trip must perform hajj at least once in a lifetime.
Last June, Saudi Arabia announced its plan to restrict the number of pilgrims for this year’s hajj over ongoing expansions at the holy sites in Makkah.
Saudi authorities said they will reduce the numbers of pilgrims coming from within the kingdom by half.
The numbers of overseas pilgrims will be reduced by 20 percent.
Awaited Dream
Preparing pilgrims for hajj, the Islamic Foundation Bangladesh, a government organization, and many others Hajj agencies have organized hajj training courses.
The training courses, each attended by 50 to 1000 would-be pilgrims, were led by Bangladeshi and Saudi scholars.
“Most of the Hajj pilgrims of Bangladesh are performing hajj for the first time, so they have no clear Idea about how to perform hajj,” Maulana Mohammad Hossain Akand, a Hajj trainer, told this OnIslam.net.
“We have taught them about Ahkam and Arkan of hajj in the training program.”
During the training, pilgrims were offered briefed hajj training sessions about the importance, significance and moral value of Hajj.
“Aim of Hajj pilgrim’s training is to help would-be pilgrims to excel hajj according to Islamic rules and regulations,” Mahbubur Rahman, a Lecturer of Tafsirul Quarn (Arabic) in Higher Madrasha, told OnIslam.net.
Mohammad Ruhul Amin Talukder, a 56-year-old Muslim who works in the fishing business, was one of the lucky people who will have the chance to perform hajj this year.
“I shall go to perform Hajj to achieve satisfaction of Almighty Allah,” he told OnIslam.net.
Going to Hajj this year for the first time, Talukder described a strong desire to see the holy cities of Makkah and Madinah.
“I wish to see many other memorial places in Saudi Arabia, including the rooms of Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him),” he added.
Maruf Ahsan, a serviceman who goes to Hajj this year first time, was overjoyed after knowing that he will have the chance to perform hajj this year.
“Hajj is fifth pillar of Islam. As a Muslim, I go to hajj to fulfill my long cherished desired,” 42-year-old Ahsan said. (T/P013/E1)
Mi’raj News Agency (MINA)
