Bangladesh’s Ministry of Religious Affairs has urged the public not to make any financial transactions for Hajj or Umrah through unauthorised agents, cautioning against deceptive online advertisements circulating on social media.

In a recent public notice, the ministry stated that fraudulent groups have been promoting Hajj and Umrah packages on platforms such as Facebook and YouTube, despite lacking official authorisation. These groups are luring potential pilgrims with attractive offers, leading many to fall victim to scams.

The ministry emphasized that every year, an official list of licensed and qualified Hajj and Umrah agencies is published on its website and on the Hajj portal (www.hajj.gov.bd). It has therefore requested all prospective pilgrims to verify the agency’s credentials through official sources before making any payments.

Such verification, the ministry stressed, is essential to avoid fraud and ensure a safe and legitimate pilgrimage experience.

SMS/