Officially, two packages and one private package have been finalized for Hajj this year. According to the announced package, this time the pilgrimage will cost more than one lakh rupees per pilgrim.
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .The Hajj package was finalized at a meeting of the Executive Committee on Hajj Management at the Secretariat on Wednesday (May 11).
State Minister for Religion at the end of the meeting. Faridul Haque Khan briefed the journalist about the Hajj package.
He said that 5 lakh 26 thousand 340 rupees has been incurred in package-1 and 4 lakh 62 thousand 150 rupees in package-2 for Hajj. Besides, the cost of a package for Hajj under private management has been estimated at Tk 4,56,630.
In the case of Package-1, the cost has increased by one lakh 2 thousand 340 rupees, in case of Package-2, this time the cost has increased by 1 lakh 2 lakh 150 rupees.
Due to the coronavirus epidemic, Bangladeshi pilgrims have not been able to perform Hajj for the last two years due to restrictions imposed by the Saudi government.
The last Hajj pilgrims went to Saudi Arabia from Bangladesh in 2019. Although the package was announced in 2020, no one from Bangladesh could go for Hajj. At that time 4 lakh 25 thousand rupees was included in package-1 and 3 lakh 80 thousand rupees was spent in package-2. The cost of package-3 was estimated at 3 lakh 15 thousand rupees.
The state minister said a package of Tk 4,56,530 has been proposed for privately managed pilgrims. Privately managed Hajj agencies will be able to announce multiple packages in conjunction with Public Administration Package-1 and Package-2.
The Minister of State for Religious Affairs said that the holy Hajj will be held in Saudi Arabia on July 7, subject to the sighting of the moon. Get a chance to go. Two packages for government management and one package for private management agencies have been proposed for 2022, calculating the airfare for pilgrims, house rent in Saudi Arabia, service charges, teacher fees, Zamzam water, food costs and other fees.
He said the Saudi government had delayed announcing the Hajj due to the Corona epidemic and had not yet received a statement from Saudi Arabia on the actual cost per capita, considering the potential cost. The proposed package has been approved at a meeting of the Executive Committee on Hajj Management.
In the case of Hajj package, the expenditure in Bangladesh period did not increase, the state minister said, adding that the exchange rate of Saudi Riyal was Tk 23 in 2020. Today the rate is 24 rupees 30 paise. This is also one of the reasons for the increase in package prices. In addition, 15 percent VAT, service charge tax has been included on all sectors in Saudi Arabia. The cost of mowing has doubled. House rents have risen. These factors are responsible for the increase in package prices. The third package was not kept this year.
He said that the pilgrims registered in any of the 3 packages of the year 2020 will have to complete the registration of the year 2022 by selecting the package-1 or package-2 announced for the year 2022 and transferring the package. In this case, the bank will immediately confirm the receipt of the transfer money package in the e-Hajj system of the Ministry of Religious Affairs. Once the payment is confirmed, the pilgrim will be given his Pilgrim ID from the e-Hajj system.
He further said that if any quota is vacant, then the government can manage the remaining quota to register within the prescribed time with the approval of the Hajj director as per the pre-registration order. Those registered pilgrims in 2020 who do not complete the registration in 2022 or cannot go for Hajj by transferring the package, their Hajj registration will be canceled and they will get their money back as per the rules.
The State Minister said that the pilgrims of Package-1 of government management will be within a maximum of 1000 meters from the boundary of Holy Haram Chattar and the pilgrims of Package-2 will be within a maximum of 1500 meters.
Faridul Haque Khan said that the agency will not be able to withdraw the money taken for the plane ticket from the bank. According to the number of pilgrims, the airline has to pay the amount directly through pay-order and the agency cannot withdraw the money received for various service charges and transportation in Saudi Arabia without sending it to Saudi Arabia through IBSN (International Bank Account Number). This year, under the Route to Mecca Initiative, pre-arrival immigration from Saudi Arabia to Dhaka is planned to be completed by 100% of the pilgrims from Dhaka.
Each Hajj Agency can send a minimum of 100 and a maximum of 300 pilgrims. Hajj agencies will not be allowed to sell air tickets to any agency other than the Hajj Agency. No Hajj agency can be given more than 300 tickets under any circumstances.
One guide will be appointed for every 44 pilgrims, the minister said, adding that the Saudi government has been advised to reimburse the cost of Hajj pilgrims through Saudi Islamic Development Bank or other such banks approved by the Saudi government. For this, the pilgrim has to take an additional 610 riyals equivalent to 19 thousand 63 rupees of the package price.