Dhaka – The chiefs of three separate panels of Hajj Agencies Association of Bangladesh (HAAB) have expressed their intension to establish a corruption and irregularity free HAAB and Hajj management in future.They also promised that it would ensure punishing the human traffickers, who are involved in human trafficking in the name of Hajj and Umrah if their panels win in the election.
Against this backdrop, the members of HAAB, an apex body of the country’s Hajj agents, will elect their new leadership today (Thursday).
A total of 1,157 voters out of around 1,400 members will cast their votes to elect the new HAAB leaders.
Three separate panels – led by incumbent HAAB Secretary General Shaikh Md. Abdullah, former President Jamal Uddin Ahmed and ruling Awami League leader Abdus Sobhan Bhuiyan Hasan – are contesting the polls for its 27 posts of central committee and 27 more posts of Dhaka, Chittagong and Sylhet zonal committees.
Shaikh Abdullah and his running mate Farid Ahmed Majumder are leading the panel of HAAB Democratic Forum while Jamal Uddin and incumbent senior vice president of HAAB Helal Khan are leading HAAB Coordination Council Panel and Sobhan Bhuiyan is leading HAAB Democratic United Front Panel.
However, a section of the candidates is apprehending clash and huge rigging in the election claiming that the incumbent leadership of the HAAB is trying to change the result of the polls managing its election commission and appeal board, which were formed comprising the persons known as closest of the incumbent leadership.
According to the HAAB election commission, the votes will take place at three centers of Dhaka, Chittagong and Sylhet. The votes of central and Dhaka zonal committee will take place at Dhaka’s Ananda Community Center in Naya Paltan area.
While talking to this correspondent, top leaders of the three panels expressed their intension to establish a corruption and irregularity free HAAB and Hajj management in future, if their panels win the polls with the support of the voters. They also assured of punishing the human traffickers, who are involved in human trafficking in the name of Hajj and Umrah.
HAAB Coordination Council panel leader Jamal Uddin told this correspondent almost all of the incumbent committee members are involved with human trafficking in the name of Hajj and Umrah. Bangladesh could not send any pilgrims for Umrah for a year due to their misdeeds.
They have also embezzled around Tk 9 crore by buying land for HAAB Village. They have also earned around Tk10 crore every year by involving with trolley bag making syndicate. As a result, the Hajj agents and pilgrims had to suffer during Hajj season.
“Almost all of them are contesting the upcoming polls. The voters will consider their roles in the elections. If our panel wins the polls, the corrupt leadership will be tried,” he added.
Elaborating the allegations against incumbent HAAB leaders, HAAB Democratic United Front panel leader Sobhan Bhuiyan told this correspondent the voters will oust the incumbent HAAB leaders in the upcoming polls as they had done nothing for the betterment of the members. – Staff Reporter
