Now Hajj registration at Tk 51,000

The government has relaxed the conditions of Hajj charge payment.

Those wishing to go on pilgrimage under government management now can register their names by paying Tk 51,690 and those under private management for Tk 48,331 in the first instalment by Feb 5.

They can pay the rest in the second instalment by June 10.

A Cabinet meeting chaired by Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Monday approved a religious affairs ministry proposal relaxing the conditions.

In an earlier decision, Tk 151,690 had been fixed as the first instalment.

After the meeting, Cabinet Secretary Muhammad Musharraf Hossain Bhuiyan told reporters, “The proposal on the payment of Hajj pilgrims’ registration fees has been approved in the interest of smooth Hajj management.”

He said Hajj package operators had proposed the relaxation, saying that it would be difficult for pilgrims to pay Tk 151,690 in the first instalment.

File Photo

A total of 101,758 Bangladeshis can perform Hajj this year. Of them, 10,000 will go under two government packages.

One has to pay Tk 354,745 for Hajj pilgrimage under the first package, and Tk 296,206 under the second, which is also the lowest price for availing private packages.

Both amounts exclude charges for sacrificial animals.

The government approved the two packages on Dec 8 last year.

Online registration for Hajj will begin on Jan 21 and close on Feb 5. The collection of the registration fee began on Dec 15.

As per the decision, a pilgrim can take with him or her 500 riyals to buy sacrificial animals and another $1,000 for personal expenses.

Hajj, the biggest congregation of the Muslims, may take place on Sept 22 based on moon sighting.