The Hajj Agencies Association of Bangladesh (HAAB) on Sunday wrote a letter to Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina seeking her intervention to reset the airfare in this year's hajj package. The letter signed by M Shahadat Hossain Taslim, president of the association, was submitted to the Prime Minister's Office on Sunday. Earlier on November 2, State Minister for Religious Affairs Md Faridul Haque Khan announced 'Hajj Package-2024'  at a press briefing held at the Secretariat. Hajj packages for 2024 to be cheaper This year, the hajj package has been fixed at Tk 5,78,840 under the government management and Tk 9,36,320 under special arrangement, with the airfare of Tk 1,94,800, Tk 2,997 less than last year’s airfare. “Though the airfare was reduced compared to the last year, it is possible to reduce it further considering various factors. As Biman is a commercial organization, the HAAB central executive council thinks that fixing fare under their sole authority was not appropriate,” reads the letter. Bangladeshis can perform Umrah with transit visa: Saudi Hajj Minister At present, the airlines are selling Dhaka-Jeddah-Dhaka return tickets for around Tk75,000, the letter says, "They are operating flights with about remaining 20 percent seats vacant." On the contrary, almost 100% of passengers travel by flight during Hajj. Moreover, the operating cost of empty return flights is also low. Normal flights need additional costs in marketing and system management, which Hajj flights do not. Considering all these things, the maximum airfare for the dedicated Hajj flight could have been Tk 150,000, according to the letter. Biman's last hajj flight arrives in Dhaka with 358 pilgrims “You (PM) are always dedicated to the welfare of Hajj pilgrims and your role in modern and welfare-oriented Hajj management is universally appreciated. In the current context, Muslims intend to perform hajj across the country are only looking at you. Therefore, taking into account of the current situation, HAAB is requesting your kind intervention regarding rearranging the Hajj package by reducing the airfare of the pilgrims through an independent technical committee,” the letter concluded.

Al-Arafah Islami Bank Limited (AIBL) organised a discussion on hajj with the members of the Hajj Agencies Association of Bangladesh (HAAB) Thursday in the capital. Al-Arafah Managing Director and CEO Farman R Chowdhury was present at the program as chief guest. Md Shafiqur Rahman, deputy managing director of the bank, presided over the discussion. Read: Islami Bank remittance clients to get motorcycles Al-Arafah deputy managing directors Shabbir Ahmed, Md Mahmudur Rahman, Abed Ahmed Khan, Abdullah Al Mamun and Md Fazlur Rahman Chowdhury and HAAB officials were also present. Al-Arafah Islami Bank was set up as a private limited company on June 18, 1995.

Hajj Agencies Association of Bangladesh (HAAB) has announced package for performing hajj under private management this year fixing minimum cost at Tk 6,72, 618. M Shahadat Hossain, president of HAAB, announced the package at a programme in the city on Thursday. This year, the cost for performing hajj under private management has increased by Tk 1.49 lakh as pilgrims spent Tk 5,22,744 as minimum cost last year. The cost of sacrificial animals was not included in the package but the hajj agencies can announce more packages as per their demand, said Shahadat. Pilgrims have to bear the cost of sacrificial animals, he said. No airlines will be allowed to carry pilgrims without the dedicated flights or scheduled flights and if the Saudi government imposes any new fee than the pilgrims have to bear the extra costs, he added. The pilgrims have to deposit the full amount of the package to the agencies concerned or their bank accounts from January 6 to January 15 and collect a money receipt, he said. Earlier on Wednesday, the government fixed Tk 6,83,018 as the cost for each pilgrim to perform hajj this year. Hajj-2023 will be held on 9th day of Zilhaj (June 28) depending on moon sighting. The government signed an agreement with Saudi Arabia over hajj on January 9. According to the agreement, 15,000 people will be able to go to Hajj under government management while 1,12,198 can go under private management. Biman Bangladesh Airlines will carry 50 percent passengers while Saudia Airlines will carry 50 percent passengers. Besides, the age limit for Hajj pilgrims during the pandemic has been lifted by the Saudi government – paving the way for people over 65 to go for the significant pilgrimage. Also read: Govt raises hajj cost by Tk 1.61 lakh this year According to the ‘Route to Mecca initiative’ deal, all hajj pilgrims will complete their pre-arrival immigration in Dhaka. In case of Covid vulnerable situation, the Saudi authorities can take a decision about the number of the pilgrimage. This year, 70 percent Bangladeshi pilgrims will go through Jeddah Airport while the rest 30 percent will go through Madinah airport.

Hajj Agencies Association of Bangladesh(HAAB) has announced package for performing hajj under private management  this year. M Shahadat Hossain, president of HAAB, announced the package at a program in the city on Thursday. The minimum cost for each pilgrim has been fixed at Tk 4,63,000  excluding the cost sacrificial animals. The private Hajj agencies will be able to announce  their own special packages but it won’t be lower than the minimum general package announced by HAAB. Also read: Hajj pilgrims must submit Covid-negative report before journey This year, a total of 57,856 pilgrims will be able to perform Hajj from Bangladesh and of them 53,585 will travel under private management. The minimum cost under government management has been fixed at Tk 4,62, 150 this year which is over Tk 1 lakh more than 2020. Also read: Hajj flight begins on May 31