Lowest government Hajj package fixed at Tk 505,648 for 2027

The package includes meals and Qurbani costs previously paid separately

The Ministry of Religious Affairs has announced the Hajj package for those travelling under government management next year.

The lowest package has been priced at Tk 505,648, up 8 percent from last year, Religious Affairs Minister Kazi Shah Mofazzal Houssain Kaikobad announced at the Secretariat on Tuesday afternoon, unveiling the government's 2027 Hajj package.

The lowest package in 2026 stood at Tk 467,137. That puts this year's cost up by Tk 38,511.

The ministry, however, claims that a closer look at overall service and incidental costs tells a different story.

Once food, Muallem fees and currency exchange rate adjustments are factored in, the actual cost of Hajj for the same quality of service is set to fall by Tk 28,063 in 2027, it said.

An analysis of the approved "Hajj Package and Guidelines 2027" and its published cost breakdown shows that the Tk 467,137 package announced by the government in 2026 did not include pilgrims' daily food costs, which pilgrims had to bear on their own.

By contrast, the lowest 2027 "Economy Package-2" already includes the cost of food in Makkah and Madinah, along with sacrificial animal expenses, as part of the government price.

As a result, the ministry says the actual cost of Hajj has not risen.

According to the ministry's cost analysis, the new package mandatorily includes food costs of 1,190 riyals, or Tk 39,508.

Since the Saudi government has scrapped its previous lowest service category in Mina and Arafat, mandatory Muallem service costs have risen by 700 riyals, or around Tk 23,240 (at a rate of Tk 33.20 per riyal).

A further Tk 3,825.85 has been added due to adjustments in the riyal exchange rate.

The ministry says that factoring in these costs, the "real value" of last year's equivalent package now stands at Tk 533,711.

Per the ministry's announcement, the cost of the government's special Hajj Package-1 stood at Tk 690,597 in 2026. That has been reduced to Tk 615,263 for 2027, a cut of Tk 75,334.

The lowest price for private agencies has been set at Tk 513,648. Air fare was the main factor behind the reduced cost.

The ministry said air fare for travel between Bangladesh and Saudi Arabia in 2027 has been set at Tk 130,000, considerably lower than in previous years.

Under the announced package, Economy Package-2 covers accommodation between 2km and 3km from the Masjid al-Haram, with free round-the-clock air-conditioned Salawat bus service included for transport.

In Madinah, hotels will be located within 800m of Al Markaziah.

Pilgrims wanting accommodation within 1km to 1.4km of the Haram Sharif will need to opt for government Package-1 instead.

All packages include economy class air tickets, meal arrangements, and a riyal exchange rate of Tk 33.20.

Pre-registration through the e-Hajj system is currently open for interested pilgrims.

After pre-registering by Sept 24, applicants must complete preliminary registration by depositing Tk 350,000.

Final registration must then be completed by depositing the full package amount with the bank by Dec 10.

All visa applications are to be processed between Jan 28 and Mar 9.