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Published : 22 Oct 2024, 02:10 AM
After the interim government revealed plans to cut Hajj expenses, efforts are in full swing to determine the extent of the possible reduction.
In a key step toward this goal, Religious Affairs Advisor AFM Khalid Hossain held discussions with the Saudi government during his recent visit, seeking ways to make the pilgrimage more affordable for Bangladeshis.
In Bangladesh, both the religious affairs ministry and the civil aviation and tourism ministry are exploring areas to cut costs.
Religious Affairs Secretary Md Abdul Hamid Jamaddar said the situation depends on Saudi Arabia, but a “sizeable amount” will be reduced.
After the COVID-19 pandemic, global airfare surged, coupled with increased costs from the Saudi government and rising prices for food and other essentials, leading to a sharp rise in Hajj costs from Bangladesh.
The costs have risen to the extent that the number of pilgrims allowed from Bangladesh has not been met in the past two years, with many citing financial pressures as the reason for their absence despite registration.
The government package for Hajj in 2023 was set at Tk 683,000, while the minimum cost for private packages was Tk 672,000.
Amidst heated discussions, the ousted Awami League government had reduced costs substantially for 2024, shaving Tk 104,000 off the government package, bringing it down to Tk 579,000, and setting the private package minimum at Tk 590,000.
After the Sheikh Hasina regime was overthrown on Aug 5, the caretaker administration vowed to further reduce costs.
After the advisory council meeting on Aug 29, Environment Advisor Syeda Rizwana Hasan told reporters that there appears to be a syndicate manipulating Hajj package prices.
She added that efforts are under way to bring Hajj costs to a more reasonable level, with discussions already initiated on possible reductions.
AIRFARE IN BANGLADESH’S CONTROL
An analysis of Hajj package costs reveals that accommodation and airfare constitute a significant portion of the overall expenses.
In 2024, airfare was set at Tk 194,800, down slightly from the previous year’s Tk 197,797. In 2022, the flight cost was Tk 142,000.
Religious Affairs Secretary Hamid said the airfare for Biman Bangladesh Airlines is under their control.
He told bdnews24.com, “We have already held meetings regarding fare reductions with the airline. We will meet again on the 22nd of October and hope to lower the fare.”
“Earlier, we protested against flight prices through the religious affairs ministry, but no progress was made. This time, there is an opportunity. We will make every effort to reduce the fares,” he added.
When asked about how much the fares could be reduced and the potential impact on the Hajj package price, the advisor said: “It is too early to say. However, I hope we can reduce it by a good amount. We will announce the Hajj package by the 30th of October.”
Biman Bangladesh Airlines transports the majority of Hajj pilgrims from Bangladesh, while Saudi Arabian Airlines and Flynas also provide services.
However, the Bangladesh government cannot set fares for these two airlines.
During the Hajj season, airfare tends to be higher due to the operation of dedicated flights. Currently, Umrah pilgrims travelling to Saudi Arabia are paying around Tk 75,000 for round-trip economy class tickets, but Hajj fares typically more than double during the peak season.
Yakub Sharafati, former senior vice president of the recently dissolved committee of the Hajj Agencies Association of Bangladesh, or HAAB, told bdnews24.com: “We have said this many times before — airfares should be ‘reasonable’ to make it easier for people to perform their religious duties.”
Former HAAB vice president Aftabuddin Chowdhury echoed this sentiment. He argued that the airfare has been excessively high. “Since Flynas started operating in 2023, fares have increased from Tk 140,000 to Tk 200,000, an increase of Tk 60,000.”
Aftabuddin pointed out that Umrah fares currently stand at about Tk 75,000, and while dedicated flights during Hajj justify higher prices, the fare should reasonably be around Tk 150,000.
He said, “There is still room to reduce fares by Tk 50,000.”
COSTS BEYOND BANGLADESH’S CONTROL
Another significant portion of Hajj expenses goes towards accommodation in Makkah and Medina. In 2023, pilgrims spent Tk 204,445 on this alone.
The cost surged in 2022, contributing to the overall increase in the Hajj package.
Aftabuddin said accommodation costs in Saudi Arabia were previously around Tk 45,000 but rose to nearly Tk 170,000 in 2022.
In 2023, it dropped slightly to Tk 160,000, and in 2024, it was reduced to Tk 150,000.
He said, “Increasing these costs has not yielded any benefits. The facilities remain the same as before. Neither our ministry nor HAAB attempted to explain this to the Saudi authorities.”
In addition to accommodation, costs for tents, mattresses, bedding, blankets, food services, transportation fees, visa fees, health insurance, and ground service camp fees in Mina and Arafat also add up.
There are additional fees from agencies, meals, and guides.
The Saudi government determines the costs, and Bangladesh has no direct control over them, aside from making formal requests.
Religious Affairs Secretary Hamid told bdnews24.com, “We have also spoken with the Saudi minister. We will do whatever it takes to reduce the costs.”
He added that Saudi Arabia has not yet disclosed the expense figures but we expect to receive the rates on the 24th or 25th of October, after which they will announce the package.”
TWO TYPES OF PACKAGES THIS YEAR
An official from the religious affairs ministry told bdnews24.com that two Hajj packages might be announced this year.
“One of these packages will include accommodation within one and a half kilometres of Masjid al-Haram. This package will likely be priced higher,” he said.
He added, "The second option will be the 'Azizia Package’, where pilgrims will stay in Azizia, around two to three kilometres from Makkah. Transportation will be provided for travel to and from the Masjid al-Haram. Since the accommodations are further from the mosque, the rental costs and overall package price will be lower.”
According to the ministry’s notice, the standard package will accommodate up to six people in a room at a house or hotel. However, pilgrims can opt for a two-bed room by paying an additional amount.
COST CUTS COULD FULFIL ABUL HOSSAIN’S HAJJ DREAM
Abul Hossain, a man in his sixties from Sunamganj’s Dharmpasha Upazila, has been saving money for years because he dreamed of performing Hajj.
However, the expenses have consistently remained beyond his reach.
He told bdnews24.com, “I wanted to go for Hajj in 2023. I had managed to save nearly Tk 450,000 in total, but the costs were at least Tk 100,000 more than that, so I could not go.
Abul added, “I do not understand all the details. My only dream was to touch the Kaaba, the House of Allah. But it did not happen. That is all I wanted in my life—to be able to go just once!”
For several years, the quota for Hajj has not been fulfilled, despite extensions.
For 2025, Saudi Arabia has allocated a quota of 127,198 pilgrims for Bangladesh, the same as in 2024.
Last year, only 85,257 pilgrims from Bangladesh performed Hajj, which was 35 percent below the approved quota.
LOW RESPONSE TO PRELIMINARY REGISTRATION
The preliminary registration for Hajj 2025 is currently ongoing. In a press release on Aug 25, the religious affairs ministry said the registration period would run from Sept 1 to Nov 30.
However, on Oct 13, the ministry issued another notification reducing the deadline to Oct 23.
“If the registration is not completed by the 23rd of October, pilgrims will not receive their desired tent allocations in the zones at Mina and Arafat. They may have to stay further away, in mountainous or New Mina areas, far from Jamarat,” the ministry’s spokesperson Abu Bakar Siddique told bdnews24.com.
He added, “This could lead to significant hardship, as pilgrims may have to walk long distances in the extreme heat and sunlight of Saudi Arabia."
Despite these warnings, the preliminary registration has not received the expected response.
According to data from the ministry's Hajj portal as of Monday evening, 2,577 people have pre-registered for Hajj through government channels, and 61,701 have registered through private agencies.
Among those pre-registered, only 1,822 people through government channels and 2,067 through private channels had completed their preliminary registration.
The pre-registration fee is set at Tk 30,000. Both previously pre-registered individuals and new applicants can secure their preliminary registration by depositing Tk 300,000.
The remaining amount must be paid within the designated time frame of the Hajj package.
NO SEA ROUTE FOR HAJJ THIS YEAR
To reduce costs, the government has been exploring the possibility of sending pilgrims by sea instead of by air.
On Oct 6, a delegation led by Religious Affairs Advisor Khalid met the Saudi Hajj and Umrah minister in Jeddah to discuss the matter.
Later, the Saudi authorities said they would permit two to three thousand Hajj pilgrims from Bangladesh to travel by sea on a trial basis.
However, the journey can only proceed once permission is granted by the Saudi Ports Authority.
The religious affairs ministry has already sent a formal request, but no response has been received yet.
Hamid, who was part of the delegation, said: “There are two hurdles at the moment. First, we have not yet received approval from the Saudi Ports Authority. Second, we have not secured the ship we need to use for the journey.
“Our advisor is making efforts, but the cost of the ship is quite high. Considering everything, it will be challenging this year, but we are paving the way for next year,” he added.
Regarding the sea route plan, the religious affairs secretary said: “Travelling directly from Bangladesh to Saudi Arabia via Sri Lanka’s Colombo will take about seven days. We will provide food and fuel for the journey.”
He added that this option could reduce costs by 30 to 40 percent compared to air travel.
[Writing in English by Sheikh Fariha Bristy]
