Govt announces Hajj package

Staff Reporter :

The government has announced this year’s official Hajj package, fixing the minimum cost at Tk4.67 lakh per pilgrim after reducing Tk12,000 from airfare.

The announcement came on Sunday at an inter-ministerial meeting held at the Ministry of Religious Affairs, where ministry adviser AFM Khalid Hossain unveiled the details.

In addition to the general package, two other special options were introduced.

The costs are set at Tk6,90,597 for Special Package-1, Tk5,58,881 for Package-2, and Tk4,67,167 for Package-3. Packages 1 and 2 will include enhanced transport and higher-quality accommodation facilities, according to the ministry.

For pilgrims travelling under private Hajj agencies, the package cost has been fixed at Tk5,09,185.

Explaining the process, Adviser Khalid Hossain noted that Hajj management is a two-state responsibility shared between the Saudi authorities and the sending countries.

He pointed out that while Bangladesh prepares preliminary packages, the final costs are determined by the Saudi government, which controls policies and expenses on their side.

“Since the Saudi authorities have not yet confirmed the final cost for Hajj 2026, the package has been prepared on the basis of last year’s expenditure.

If the Saudi government increases or decreases expenses, package costs will be adjusted accordingly.

Pilgrims will need to pay extra if costs rise, but any surplus will be refunded if costs fall,” the adviser said.

The Hajj in 2026 is expected to take place on 26 May, depending on the lunar calendar.

Bangladesh has been allocated a quota of 1,27,198 pilgrims for next year. If schedules proceed smoothly, the first Hajj flights will depart on 18 April 2026.

According to official records, 87,100 Bangladeshi pilgrims performed the pilgrimage last year.