Staff Reporter:
Stating that the government has a plan to reduce Hajj costs from the next time, Prime Minister Tarique Rahman yesterday told the Jatiya Sangsad that state-level and diplomatic initiatives will be taken to re-duce Hajj expenses further.
The Leader of the House said this while replying to a starred tabled question from opposition bench lawmaker from Gazipur-4 constituency, Salah Uddin, in the House this afternoon with Speaker Hafiz Uddin Ahmad, Bir Bikram, in the chair.
The Prime Minister said Hajj is a bi-state management system jointly administered by the Government of Saudi Arabia and the Government of Bangladesh.
Noting that Hajj-related expenditures are determined in two parts, he said around three-fourths of the total cost is incurred in Saudi Arabia, which includes rent for hosing in Mina and Arafah, transport costs, service charges in Mina, Arafah and Muzdalifah, hotel accommodation in Makkah and Madinah, Qurbani expenses, visa and insurance fees, and other charges.
The remaining one-fourth of the cost is incurred in Bangladesh, mainly for airfare, the premier added.
Tarique Rahman said that this year, the lowest Hajj package has been fixed at Taka 4,67,167 (including Qurbani). Of this, Saudi Arabia-related expenses amount to Taka 3,00,797, while Bangladesh-related expenses, mainly airfare, stand at Taka 1,66,369, including air ticket cost of Taka 1,54,830.
“The government has a plan to reduce Hajj costs from the next time. It is also included in our election manifesto, which stated that an affordable, accessible, humane and expatriate-friendly Hajj management system will be established for devotees,” he said.
Noting that in 2025, the lowest Hajj package was Taka 4,78,242, the premier said in 2026, the package cost was reduced by Taka 11,075, benefiting the pilgrims.
Tarique Rahman said that considering the global situation and Saudi Arabia’s calculated the costs, the government will make all-out efforts to reduce or rationally determine the Hajj package price for 2027 to ease the burden on pilgrims.
