Dhaka: Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Saturday said the Muslim Ummah faces a danger and crisis as some people choose the wrong path of militancy.

"The whole Muslim Ummah has got trapped in danger due to some people's move to take a confusing path (of militancy). We won't allow these militancy and terrorism to be active in our country," she said.

The Prime Minister said this while inaugurating the Hajj Programme-2017 at the Hajj Camp in the city's Ashkona area.

The sacred religion Islam is the religion of peace, said Sheikh Hasina adding that some people are misusing this religion of peace, killing innocent people in its name. "As a result, innocent Muslims across the globe are facing harassment and even losing their lives."

Hasina said the Prophet Hazrat Muhmaad (PBUH) also had said Islam is the religion of peace, and there is no scope in Islam to kill innocent people.

"No one has the right to kill innocent people, the almighty Allah will give the last verdict. Why can't they keep confidence and trust in Him?" she questioned.

Talking about suicidal attempts, the Prime Minister said Islam never permits suicide. "Islam never said that by committing suicide one will go to the heaven. Some people are creating this confusion...we don't want our people to go to this confusing path."

Terming hajjis as the guests of Allah, Hasina urged them to pray for Bangladesh so that the country can remain safe from the evil clutches of militancy and terrorism.

Hasina expressed her firm determination to maintain the existing success in modernising and bringing qualitative changes in hajj management through various steps during the last eight and a half years.

She mentioned that the government has taken initiatives to remove all the irregularities and disorders of the past in hajj passengers' transportation management and housing system in Makkah and Madinah and healthcare services. "We've presented a smooth hajj management to pilgrims since 2009."

The Prime Minister said as a result of introduction of digital hajj management through highest level of application of information technology various irregularities, corruption, and indiscipline in renting houses and transportation of pilgrims during the BNP-Jamaat has been removed.

As a result, the number of hajj pilgrims has increased to 1,27198 this year that was 47,983 in 2006 and it has been possible due to implementation of massive development programmes by her government, she said.

Chaired by Religious Affairs Minister Principal Motiur Rahman, the programme was addressed, among others, by Civil Aviation and Tourism Minister Rashed Khan Menon, Chairman of the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Religious Affairs Ministry Bazlul Huq Haroon, Sahara Khatun MP, Saudi Charge de Affaires Abdullah HM Al-Mutairi and Religious Affairs Secretary M Abdul Jalil.

After the inaugural programme, the Prime Minister exchanged greetings with the hajj pilgrims.

This year, the hajj flights carrying Bangladeshi pilgrims to Saudi Arabia will begin on July 24 and continue till August 26.

The first hajj flight, carrying 419 pilgrims, will take off from Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport at7:55 am for Saudi Arabia on the day.

A total of 177 flights will carry the hajj pilgrims till August 26.The return flight will start on September 6 and continue till October 5.

The number of return flights will be 169. Biman Bangladesh Airlines and Saudi Airlines will carry the Bangladeshi pilgrims.

Some 127,198 pilgrims will perform hajj from Bangladesh this year under government and private managements. Of them, 4,230 pilgrims will perform Hajj under the government management.

From this year, flights carrying hajj pilgrims will also go to Madinah.