The Hajj and Umrah Management Bill 2021 has been passed in parliament to address irregularities and mismanagement in the sector.
State Minister for Religious Affairs Md Faridul Haque Khan moved the bill during Tuesday session, when it was passed by voice vote.
"This is the very first bill for Hajj management in the history of Bangladesh," the state minister told the parliament.
The new law will allow authorities to scrap registration of any Hajj and Umrah agency for anomalies.
Also, a Hajj agency can be slapped with a fine of up to Tk50 lakh, while an Umrah agency with Tk15 lakh for irregularities.
If any agency gets warnings for two years in a row, its registration will automatically be suspended for the same period.
Also, lawsuits can be filed against criminal offences committed in the Hajj and Umrah management.
After the enactment of the new law, if a Bangladeshi gets involved in Hajj-related irregularities even in Saudi Arabia, it can be treated as if it happened in Bangladesh and legal steps including criminal and administrative actions can be taken.
