Hajj cost more than India-Pakistan

Bangladesh is charged more for Hajj than neighboring countries India and Pakistan. The cost of Hajj in Pakistan this year has been fixed at around 13 lakh rupees, which is 4 lakh 88 thousand 275 taka in Bangladeshi currency. And the official Hajj in India will cost around four lakh rupees, a little more than five lakh rupees in Bangladeshi currency. Compared to these two countries, going to Hajj in Bangladesh will cost more than one and a half lakh taka. This time, the total cost of Hajj in Bangladesh has been estimated at 6 lakh 83 thousand 15 taka. And privately will cost 6 lakh 72 thousand 618 taka. Compared to last year, the cost of Hajj has increased from 1.5 lakh to 2 lakh 21 thousand taka. Thus there is dissatisfaction with the increase in the cost of Hajj. A Supreme Court lawyer has sent a legal notice to the Ministry of Religion to bring the cost of Haj within Tk 4 lakh.

Hajj Agencies Association of Bangladesh (HAB) Senior Vice President Maulana Yakub Sharafati said that many people are facing problems in registering even if they want to do Hajj because the cost of Hajj has increased a lot.

In response to the question of why the cost of Hajj is more for Bangladeshis compared to India and Pakistan, Additional Secretary of Hajj Division of the Ministry of Religious Affairs said. Motiul Islam told Prothom Alo that compared to those two countries, pilgrims in Bangladesh spend more in some sectors. He said that pilgrims from Bangladesh live in Misfalah area of Makkah. On the other hand, pilgrims from India and Pakistan stay in the Azizia area of Makkah. Housing rent in Misfala area is higher than Azizia.

Motiul Islam said, Mina to Azizia. So pilgrims from India and Pakistan can walk to Mina. No need to hire a bus. On the other hand, one bus for every 100 people is used to transport Bangladeshi pilgrims from Misphala to Mina. This increases the cost. In Mina, you have to pay extra for staying in a tent. Apart from this, non-AC buses are hired for pilgrims from other countries to and from Madinah, but AC buses are hired for Bangladeshis. Due to these reasons the cost is high.

Additional Secretary Motiul Islam said that the flight fare of Haj pilgrims has increased by about 60,000 taka this year and the cost is higher than last year due to the decrease in the price of taka against the dollar.

The holy Hajj can be held on June 27 subject to sighting of the moon. Bangladesh has a quota of 1 lakh 27 thousand 198 people for Hajj this year. Out of this, 15 thousand will be under government management and the rest will be under private management. A total of 80 thousand 734 people have registered to go to Haj yesterday till Sunday. Out of this, 9 thousand 342 people have registered for Haj under government management and 71 thousand 392 under private management. Registration is open till March 16