An inter-ministerial meeting yesterday decided to complete all Hajj formalities three months before the annual Hajj to avoid harassment to the pilgrims and transportation hassles.

It was also decided at the meeting that the Bangladesh Biman authorities would fix the same fare for both balottee and non-balottee pilgrims, an official handout said.

The decision was taken after reviewing the faults found in carrying out the formalities of the recent Hajj. State Minister for Religious Affairs Mosharef Hossain Shajahan chaired the meeting, held at the ministry's conference room.

State Minister for Civil Aviation and Tourism Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir, Chairman of the parliamentary standing committee on the Ministry of Religious Affairs Moulana Delwar Hossain Sayeedi, Religious affairs secretary Ataur Rahman, Secretary of the Civil Aviation Tourism Ministry Zafarullah Khan, former Religious Affairs Secretary Rafiaqul Islam and Director General of Islamic Foundation Fazlur Rahman, among others, attended the meeting.

The participants in the meeting recommended that the Ministry of Religious Affairs would fix the number of Hajees every year and also stern measures against harassment of pilgrims by the concerned Hajj agencies.

They also stressed the need for undertaking strong measures against those, who have been issuing fake health certificates for the physically and mentally unfit persons to perform Hajj.

According to their suggestions, such fake health certificate issuing authorities and the concerned Hajj agencies must be dealt with an iron hand, the handout said.

The meeting also underscored the need for formulating a longterm Hajj Policy by March next, it added.