Interim govt takes Tk100cr project for Baitul Mukarram, cuts Hajj costs

The Ministry of Religious Affairs has prepared a Tk100 crore project for the development and beautification of Baitul Mukarram National Mosque, reduced expenses of Hajj packages and strengthened communal harmony in the country along with carrying out other activities in the first 100 days of the present government.

The interim government, with Nobel Laureate Professor Muhammad Yunus at the helm, was sworn in on 8 August, following the fall of Sheikh Hasina's dictatorship on 5 August in the face of a student-led mass uprising.

"We have an allocation of Tk100 crore for the beautification and development of the Baitul Mukarram National Mosque. We have prepared a project to turn the national mosque into a spectacular establishment and create a religious fervour there," Religious Affairs Adviser AFM Khalid Hossain told BSS.

He said the government also got a Tk10 crore fund from Kuwait for the development of Anderkilla Shahi Jame Mosque in Chattogram. The development work of this ancient mosque of the Mughal era in the port city will begin in January 2025, he added.

The adviser said the religious affairs ministry has also taken an initiative, for the first time in the country, to fix a unified pay scale for imams, muezzins, and other staffers of mosques across the country.

An expert committee has been formed and it is working to make recommendations for the pay scale considering all relevant aspects, he said.

All mosques under government, semi-government and autonomous organisations will follow this pay scale and all solvent mosques under private management across the country would also be requested through the local administrations to follow it, added Khalid. 

About his ministry's success in cutting the expenditures of Hajj for Bangladeshi pilgrims in 2025, he said they could do it by reducing the airfare and house rent in Saudi Arabia.

Earlier, on 30 October, the adviser announced two cost-effective Hajj packages for the upcoming year of 2025 by reducing expenses compared to the previous year.

The minimum cost for the general package-1 under the government arrangement is set at Tk4,78,242, which was Tk5,78,840 in 2024.

The cost for the general package-2 under the government arrangement is set at Tk5,75,680, while the government has decided not to offer the special Hajj package in 2025, which charged Tk9,36,320 in 2024.
 
The first package includes accommodations within 1 to 1.5 km of the Holy Kaaba, while the other offers lodging within 2.5 to 3 km. Both packages provide transportation and quality accommodation.
 
The price of the private general Hajj package managed by private Hajj agencies has been set at Tk4,83,156, and the agencies have been permitted to offer additional special packages.

Besides, the ministry has introduced a cashless system for the Hajj pilgrims and Hajj agencies so that they can deposit their fees online without going to banks in person.

About upholding communal harmony in the country, the religious affairs adviser said the interim government has strengthened amity among the followers of all faiths.

He said the last Durga Puja, the biggest festival of the Hindu community, was celebrated peacefully with enthusiasm across the country.

There was no major untoward incident anywhere as the law enforcers and the conscious citizens were vigilant, he added.

"We held meetings with community leaders and visited temples to ensure smooth celebration of their religious festivals," he added.

The adviser said they worked in coordination with the home ministry during the Durga Puja. Besides, Tk4 crore was distributed to facilitate the celebration of the puja this year, he added.

During the floods in the last monsoon, the adviser said, the Islamic Foundation under his ministry rendered health services through five medical teams in the districts of Feni, Noakhali, Lakshmipur, Chandpur, Cumilla, Moulvibazar, and Chattogram districts.

About 16,000 people received free medical treatment from those medical teams, he added.

Besides, Tk55,00,000 was distributed among the flood-hit people in 11 districts from the Jakat fund of the Islamic Foundation, said the adviser.

Asked about his ministry's steps over the allegations of corruption in building model mosques across the country during the last government, the adviser said a committee has been formed to probe those allegations.

If the allegations are found to be true, actions would be taken as per the inquiry report, he added.