Hajj expenses reduced by Tk1 lakh

Bangladeshi pilgrims will be able to perform the hajj in 2025 for Tk1,00,598 less than what they needed to pay in 2024 under government arrangement.

 Private hajj operators will also offer a package at a significantly lower cost — Tk4,83,156 — for 2025, down from Tk5,89,800 a year ago.

 Religious Affairs Adviser AFM Khalid Hossain announced the Hajj Package 2025 at a press conference following an executive committee meeting at the Secretariat today (30 October).

 The government announced two packages. The minimum cost for the General Package-1 through government arrangement is set at Tk478,242, which was Tk5.79 lakh in 2024.

 The cost for the General Package-2 is set at Tk575,680, down by Tk3,160 than what it was in the previous year.

The special Hajj package, which was Tk936,320 in 2024, will no longer be available in 2025.

Facilities such as 2-, 3-, and 4-bed rooms in houses or hotels in Makkah and Madinah can be availed by paying additional money.

Hajj agencies will be able to offer a special hajj package if they wish.

Altogether 1,27,198 devotees will be able to go for the next hajj, to be performed in early June 2025. Of them, 10,000 will be under government arrangement.

The government hajj packages will include boarding within three kilometres of Mecca's Masjid-e-Haram and transportation to and from the residence, boarding within 1.5 kilometres of Medina's Masjid-e-Nawawi, transportation from Mecca residence to Mina's tent through bus and transportation between Mina-Arafah-Muzdalifah-Mina through trains, availability of food at Mina and Arafah, residency of maximum six people at Mecca and Medina residences, availability of refrigerators, free medicine and treatment in Mecca, Medina and Jeddah and one guide per 46 pilgrims.

At the announcement, Adviser Khalid Hossain said every hajj aspirant will have to take Saudi Riyals equivalent to Tk40,000 as personal expenses and 750 Saudi Riyals for sacrificial animals.

He said compared to last year, airfare has come down to Tk27,000 from Tk194,800. 

"The National Board of Revenue has provided exemptions on taxes and VAT, while the Civil Aviation Authority has also reduced their fees. Additionally, accommodations will be rented three kilometres away from the Haram Sharif, which will yield further savings. For this reason, costs are lower than last year," the adviser explained. 

He added that if there are further savings on accommodation, the amount will be refunded.

"However, due to the increase in the foreign exchange rate, an additional expense of Tk40,000 is incurred. Last year, the rate for each Saudi Riyal was Tk29.74, whereas this year, it has been set at Tk32.50. If the exchange rate had not risen, the cost of Hajj would have been even lower," said the adviser.

Adviser Khalid Hossain said discussions are also underway to send Hajj pilgrims from Bangladesh by ship via sea route. "The Saudi government has given verbal consent, and now a formal request has been sent to it for written approval. However, Bangladesh currently lacks such a ship," he said. 

Although it may not be possible to send pilgrims by sea route for the 2025 Hajj, it is hoped that it will be feasible the following year, the adviser added.