Air fares for Hajj pilgrims are increasing day by day and if such situation continues Hajj pilgrims fear that many aspiring hajjis would be discouraged from performing hajj in the near future.
In the last 7 years, air fares for Hajj pilgrims have increased more than 30 percent compared to earlier. Compared to the previous year, the air fare of Hajj pilgrims has increased by Tk 58000 per person. If this trend continues, pilgrims from Bangladesh will drastically reduce.
Last year, the air fare for each Hajj pilgrims was fixed at Tk 1.40 lakh. This year the air fare has been increased by Tk 58000 to stand at Tk 1.98 lakh. In 2016, the Hajj package was Tk 3.40 lakh. At present, the Hajj package including all expenses including air fare has been fixed at Tk 68315000.
Association of Travel Agents of Bangladesh (ATAB) President SN Manzoor Morshed presented these information in a written proposal to the Prime Minister, demanding reconsideration of the package price including the fixed air fare for the pilgrims. The ATAB President also drew the attention of the Prime Minister that if the air fare is determined at a reasonable level, the financial pressure of the Hajj pilgrims will be reduced a lot.
Currently, the cost of performing hajj at Saudi Arabia is determined by calculating the value of the Saudi Riyal, but there is a possibility that the value of the Riyal will increase during the Hajj. Moreover, the impact of the dollar crisis that is prevailing due to the financial recession in the world will further increase the financial pressure of the pilgrims and if this trend continues in the future, the pilgrims from Bangladesh will lose the ability to go for Hajj, ATAB president also said.
The holy Hajj will be held in Saudi Arabia on June 27, subject to moon sighting. On this occasion, the Bilateral Hajj Agreement 2023 was signed between the Royal Saudi Government and the Government of Bangladesh on January 9.
According to the Hajj agreement, the quota of Haj pilgrims this year has been fixed at 1,27,198. Out of this, 15,000 people under government management and 1,12,198 people under private management will be able to perform the Hajj.