Three intended hajj pilgrims failed to go to Saudi Arabia this year thanks to fraudulence by a hajj agency.

The three intended hajj pilgrims are Asma Begum, Rina Akhtar and Abdul Mannan, according to sources at the religious affairs ministry.

Sabilul Jannat Air Travels Ltd (hajj license no. 1140), in Dhaka's Uttara, took Tk 17.20 lakh from the three intended pilgrims but didn't send them to Saudi Arabia, according to the ministry.

The religious affairs ministry on Sunday (June 26, 2022) served a show cause notice to the proprietor of Sabilul Jannat Air Travels Ltd, asking to respond to the ministry within three days on why the agency's hajj license wouldn't be cancelled and the agency's deposited money wouldn't be confiscated.

In the notice, the ministry said failure of the hajj agency in sending the three pilgrims to Saudi Arabia is tantamount to fraudulence and obstacle for fair hajj management which go against the hajj and umrah management law, 2021.

The Daily Star couldn't contact any official of Sabilul Jannat Air Travels Ltd and the three intended pilgrims for comments.