The objective of Hajj by Akij is to serve pilgrims with trust and dignity: Abu Ammar Abdullah

Every year, thousands of Muslims from Bangladesh travel to Saudi Arabia to perform Hajj and Umrah alongside millions of pilgrims from around the world. Although many organizations are involved in Hajj and Umrah management, complaints regarding mismanagement, misinformation, fraud, and poor services remain common. Against this backdrop, Hajj by Akij and South Asia Travel and Hajj Service has started its journey as a concern of Akij Group with the goal of ensuring a safer, more transparent, and technology-driven Hajj experience for Bangladeshi pilgrims.

In a conversation with The Current View (TCV), Abu Ammar Abdullah, Deputy General Manager of Hajj by Akij and South Asia Travel and Hajj Service and an experienced Hajj Muallim, spoke about the organization’s vision, challenges in Hajj management, and future plans.

TCV: Could you tell us about Hajj by Akij and South Asia Travel and Hajj Service?

Abu Ammar Abdullah: Hajj is one of the most important pillars of Islam. Every year, millions of Muslims perform Hajj and Umrah, yet many pilgrims become victims of fraud, misinformation, and poor management in different ways. Observing these realities, Jasim Uddin, the Chieftain of Akij Resources, envisioned an organization that would serve pilgrims with dignity, sincerity, and professionalism. With this goal, Hajj by Akij began its journey.

Our objective is not merely business-oriented. We want to provide genuine service to the guests of Allah. Under the guidance of our leadership, we are identifying the major challenges in Hajj management and working toward practical and lasting solutions.

TCV: What are the major problems currently faced by pilgrims?

Abu Ammar Abdullah: There are several common problems in Hajj management in Bangladesh and across South Asia. These include disorganized management and lack of coordination among agencies, misinformation and fraud regarding packages and services, accommodation and transportation crises in Makkah and Madinah, and inadequate training for pilgrims before departure. In many cases, pilgrims discover that the promised services are not available in reality. As a result, they suffer physically, financially, and spiritually during their pilgrimage.

TCV: How is Hajj by Akij planning to address these issues?

Abu Ammar Abdullah: We are fully committed to ensuring transparency, accountability, and quality service while strictly following the guidelines of the Saudi Ministry of Hajj and Umrah and the Bangladesh government’s digital Hajj systems, including e-Hajj registration. We are offering package-based services such as Economy, Standard, and VIP, with guaranteed facilities according to each category. One of our major priorities is pilgrim education and awareness. Many pilgrims lack proper knowledge about Hajj rituals and procedures, making them vulnerable to fraud and mistakes. To address this, we are arranging free Hajj training sessions throughout the year across the country through experienced teachers, imams, and guides.

We are also introducing group-based management systems with trained guides and providing awareness about Saudi Arabia’s modern Hajj systems, including transportation, security, and digital services.

TCV: What makes your Hajj management model different from others?

Abu Ammar Abdullah: We are focusing on modern and advanced Hajj management with a pilgrim-first approach. Our goal is to provide complete end-to-end service management where a single organization handles everything from visa processing to accommodation, transportation, and guidance services.

To ensure accommodation quality, we are securing our own or long-term leased hotels in Makkah and Madinah. This year, although many pilgrims completed registration with us, we chose not to send Hajj pilgrims because our hotel agreements were not finalized. Despite facing significant financial loss, we did not compromise on service quality or our principles.

We are also introducing Smart Hajj services through mobile applications, live tracking systems, digital guidelines, and emergency support services. In addition, we are arranging practical pre-Hajj training sessions on Tawaf, Sa’i, Mina life, and other rituals through experienced Muallims.

Another important aspect is our transparent cost structure. Our packages are designed to be completely clear with no hidden charges, and services will be guaranteed according to the selected package.

We are also prioritizing pilgrim-centric services. Food, healthcare, language support, and other facilities will be arranged according to the specific needs of pilgrims, with support from Saudi authorities whenever necessary.

TCV: What is your long-term vision?

Abu Ammar Abdullah: Our goal is to establish a safe, transparent, technology-driven, and spiritually enriching Hajj experience for Bangladeshi pilgrims. By learning from past challenges and strengthening present management systems, we hope to build trust and ensure that pilgrims can perform Hajj and Umrah with peace of mind and dignity.