Two Hajj agencies with suspended licenses—Akbar Hajj Group and Akbar Travel International—have been accused of defrauding pilgrims by using Facebook pages to promote misleading advertisements. On Sunday, December 8, the Ministry of Religious Affairs sent a letter to the Senior Secretary of the Public Security Division under the Ministry of Home Affairs, requesting legal action against these agencies.
The letter stated that Akbar Hajj Group, Bangladesh, and Akbar Travel International have been running promotional campaigns through Facebook pages, advertising attractive offers to lure unsuspecting pilgrims. According to the Hajj and Umrah Management Act, 2021, and the Hajj and Umrah Management Rules, 2022, multiple agencies cannot legally form a group under a single name, such as Akbar Hajj Group.
It was further noted in the letter that Akbar Hajj Group’s license had previously been suspended by the Ministry of Religious Affairs due to various irregularities. Despite not being listed among authorized Hajj agencies for 2025, Akbar Hajj Group and Akbar Travel International are unlawfully operating under the group name. They have been misleading pilgrims by claiming to provide accommodation just 700 meters from the Haram Sharif in exchange for a payment of BDT 503,000.
The agencies are also advertising fraudulent incentives, such as offering a cashback of BDT 20,000 upon final registration and promising superior services. They have reportedly recruited representatives across the country for registrations and are suspected of collaborating with other Hajj agencies in secret.
Despite the suspension of its license, Akbar Hajj Group continues its operations under the name “Akbar Hajj Group, Bangladesh,” from an office located at Gulf Tower, 30 Naya Paltan, VIP Road, Dhaka, using online technology to expand its activities.
The Ministry’s letter stressed that the operations of such groups are entirely illegal and called for the immediate shutdown of their offices and activities. Without decisive legal action, the letter warned, large-scale fraud in the name of Hajj could take place. The Ministry urged the Senior Secretary to take necessary measures to close the office and enforce the law against the fraudulent group.
