Dhaka: Religious Affairs Minister Principal Motiur Rahman on Thursday said legal action will be taken against the hajj agencies responsible for visa complexities of hajj pilgrims, leading to flight cancellation and other problems.

‘The hajj flights were cancelled due to delay in the activities of hajj agencies. Legal actions, including cancellation of license, will be taken against those agencies,’ said the Minister while talking at a press briefing at the Ministry.

‘The hajj pilgrims, who failed to go to Saudi Arabia following cancellation of scheduled flight, can go there for performing hajj. There will be no problem. Though we have requested the Saudi government to provide additional 20 flights for carrying pilgrims,’ he said.

‘The decision of Saudi government to impose extra 2000 Saudi Riyal for performing hajj for the second time suddenly is not right. We are contacting with the authorities concerned of Saudi Arabia to resolve the issue. If the Saudi government doesn’t withdraw their decision in this regard then the hajj pilgrims will have to pay the money which will be a burden for them,’ he added.

This year a total of 1,27,198 pilgrims — 4,200 under government management and 1,22,998 under private management — are scheduled to go to Saudi Arabia for performing hajj.