The country's private hajj agencies have announced two private packages for the Bangladeshi pilgrims intending to perform Hajj under private management in next Hajj season of 2025.
Including the expenses of food in the packages, Tk 5.23 lakh general package was announced while for the special package, the pilgrims have to pay Tk 6.99 lakh for5 performing Hajj.
Under the banner of Sadharon Hajj Agency Malikbrindo (Owners of General Hajj Agencies), elected leaders of recently dissolved executive committee of Hajj Agencies Association of Bangladesh (HAAB), on Wednesday announced the packages for private agencies at a press conference in Jatiya Press Club.
Immediate past HAAB President Faruk Ahmed Sarder announced the packages on behalf of the general agencies as the HAAB will not announce any packages as there is no elected committee. Dissolving the elected committee, the government recently appointed an administrator in the trade body.
Earlier on Tuesday, owners of general Hajj agencies have given their clearance on the packages at a view exchange meeting held at a city hotel, immediate past Secretary General of HAAB Farid Ahmed Majumder said at the press conference.
Earlier on October 30, the government announced two Hajj packages - Tk4.78 lakh and Tk 5.75 lakh - for government arrangement pilgrims excluding the expenses of food and sacrificial (qurbani).
While announcing the packages, Religious Affairs Adviser AFM Khalid Hossain also informed that the private agencies would be able to announce packages at Tk 4.83 lakh. However, the private agencies would be able to announce separate special packages.
In response to Farid Ahmed Majumder said that the government has misguided the people saying that it has announced a package less than the previous years. However, it has excluded the expenses of food from the package. But, the Hajj package cannot be considered as complete without food facilities.
That's why, the private agencies have included the food facilities in the packages, he said.
He said that the government tried to reduce price of Hajj packages cutting the facilities. Usually, the government pilgrims were kept within 1.5km of the Haram Sharif in Makkah and Madina. In next year, the pilgrims would be kept within 3km for cutting the charges. Due to the decision, the elderly pilgrims have to suffer much as they will need to walk more than two kms to attend the prayers in the holy places.
Welcoming the government decision to reduce the plane fare for next year's Hajj at Tk 1.68 lakh from Tk 1.98 lakh, Farid Majumder urged the government to reduce the plane fare at a logical stage within Tk1.4 lakh to Tk1.5 lakh.
