The interim government has announced two official Hajj packages for the next year.
The overall expenses for Hajj have decreased by Tk 1,00,598 compared to the previous year.
Religious Affairs Advisor AFM Khalid Hossain made the announcement on Wednesday (October 30) afternoon while briefing the media at his office at the secretariat.
He said 1,27,198 hajj pilgrims will be able to perform hajj from Bangladesh this year. Two packages have been prepared for those who will go to Saudi Arabia to perform hajj next year.
The General Hajj Package-1 will cost Tk 4,78,242, which is Tk 1,00,598 less than that of the last year, while General Hajj Package-2 is set at Tk 5,75,680.
One of the two Hajj packages is for those who will stay within one to one and a half kilometres from the holy Kaaba Sharif, while the other package is for those who will stay within two and half kilometres to three kilometres of the holy Kaaba Sharif.
Hajj pilgrim had to pay Tk 5,78,840 to go to Hajj under the General Hajj Package last year, while they had to pay Tk 9,36,320 to go hajj pilgrim under the Special Hajj Package. There will be no special hajj package last year.
The government has also regulated the private Hajj package offered by agencies, setting its base price at Tk 4,83,156. Agencies can add an optional special package, if needed.
The press conference was also attended by Religious Affairs Secretary M Abdul Hamid Jamaddar, Additional Secretary Motiul Islam and other senior officials of the Ministry of Religious Affairs.
