The government has extended the hajj registration time for the second consecutive time as more than 55000 pilgrims are required to fulfill the quota. Earlier, the first phase extended time ends on Monday, informed the Religious Hajj Affairs Ministry.
Despite the time extension, hajj agencies are not getting response from those who are willing to go for hajj. Till date, 56301 people have completed their registration.
State Minister for Religious Affairs informed media, “As the quota for hajj registration is not competed yet, we have extended the hajj registration time for nine more days till March 16.”
Meanwhile, the Ministry of Religious Affairs has issued a notification extending the registration time after evening on Monday.
Industry insider said that those wishing to go to hajj are not interested in registering due to increase in the cost of air fare as well as other activities in Saudi Arabia. They express the hope that more people will get a chance to register if the serial system is introduced.
Hajj Agencies Association of Bangladesh (HAAB) president Mohammad Shah Alam (Chattogram region) said, “If the government opens up the pre-registration serials, then our quota may be filled.”
This year’s hajj package is the most expensive in Bangladesh’s history as government set Tk 6,83,015 per pilgrim as cost. However, the actual expense will exceed Tk 8.5 lakh including sacrificial animal, food and other miscellaneous costs.
The cost of performing hajj is higher in Bangladesh compared to other countries in the world, including neighbouring India, Pakistan and Malaysia.
Neighboring countries including India arrange hajj package between Tk3 and 3.5 lakh, but in Bangladesh it is almost twice. In this case, hajj agencies are demanding subsidy from the government along with cost reduction.
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 Hajj 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.