A Bangladeshi pilgrim will have to spend a minimum Tk 4,63,744 for performing hajj under private agencies (management) which is around Tk 1,09,150 more than that of 2020.
Hajj Agencies Association of Bangladesh (HAAB), a platform of around 1,500 hajj agencies, on Thursday announced the ‘general hajj package’ for Bangladeshi Hajj pilgrims this year at a press conference in a Dhaka hotel.
Earlier, the Religious Affairs Ministry on Wednesday proposed a minimum hajj package under private management which is Tk 4,56,530. Under government management, Tk 5,27,340 lakh has been fixed as the maximum cost under Package No 1.
Hajj agencies will be able to announce separate ‘special hajj packages’ on their own but the pricing of any such package cannot go below the minimum set amount, Hajj Agencies Association of Bangladesh President M Shahadat Hossain Taslim said.
The HAAB president said they have announced the ‘general hajj package’ after calculating the airfare, accommodation fare in Saudi Arabia, service charges, muallem fees, zamzam water, food costs and other fees.
He said the cost for sacrificing animals was not included in the package. Every pilgrim has to spend an additional Tk 19,683 for a ‘Qurbani coupon’ from the Islamic Development Bank in Saudi Arabia.
At the event, HAAB Secretary General M Shahadat Hossain Taslim said the total airfare has been set at Tk 1,40,000 and house rent at Tk 1,58,056 while the rest would be added accordingly.
Shahadat also mentioned that the money for the Hajj package has to be deposited by May 18.
According to the bilateral agreement between Bangladesh and Saudi Arabia, a total of 57,585 Bangladeshis will be able to perform hajj this year – likely to be held on July 8 depending on sighting of the moon.
Of the total pilgrims, 4,000 will perform hajj under government management while the rest will perform hajj under private agencies. Among them, 31,000 pilgrims will be carried by Biman Bangladesh Airlines and the rest by Saudia and Flynas (if the latter Saudi airline is approved).
Flights carrying Bangladeshi pilgrims to Saudi Arabia for Hajj will begin on May 31, said the Civil Aviation and Tourism Ministry.
Previously, leaders of the Bangladeshi Hajj agencies have urged the government to ensure dedicated Hajj flights so that pilgrims could complete their immigration process before boarding without hassle.
Hajj is open to those who have been fully vaccinated against Covid-19 and are under the age of 65, added the statement. Pilgrims travelling from abroad will also need to have a negative PCR test certificate, taken not more than 72 hours before their departure for Saudi Arabia, the statement added.
Last year, only 58,745 pilgrims performed Hajj from across the world because of the Covid-19 pandemic. Before the pandemic, some 2.5 million people used to travel every year to Saudi Arabia for Hajj.