1,27,198 Bangladeshi pilgrims to perform Hajj this year

A total of 1,27,198 pilgrims would perform holy Hajj this year as the cabinet approved the drafts of the “National Hajj and Umrah Policy-2017” and the “Hajj Package- 2017”.

The approval was given in the weekly meeting of the cabinet held on Monday at Bangladesh Secretariat with Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina in the chair.

Cabinet Secretary Mohammad Shafiul Alam briefed reporters after the meeting.

Under the Hajj Package-2017, he said, a total of 1,17,198 pilgrims would perform Hajj in private management, while the number under government management would be 10,000.

In the first package of the government arrangement, a pilgrim would cost Tk 3,81,508 and in the second package the cost will be Tk 3,19,355.

The minimum cost for a pilgrim who would perform Hajj under private arrangement has been fixed at Taka 1,56,537.

The cabinet secretary said all pilgrims will have to carry machine readable passports for performing Hajj this year.

A Hajj agency could send a highest 300 and minimum 150 pilgrims from Bangladesh. He said adding, an aircraft can carry the pilgrims of three Hajj agencies and three Moallems.

The pilgrims under the private management will have to pay money for qurbani (sacrificing animal) through the coupon of Islamic Development Bank in Saudi Arabia.

None would be allowed to purchase sacrificial animal directly as the bank itself would make arrangement for qurbani, Alam said.

The cabinet secretary said pilgrims under both government and private arrangements must rent houses with common space in Makkah and Madina.

The pilgrims, he said, will have to collect foods through the catering companies to be appointed by the Saudi government. They will not be allowed to cook food in their own arrangement, the cabinet secretary said.

Alam said the pilgrims under the private arrangement will have to open bank account in Saudi Arabia and they will pay hotel and house rent as well as food cost through e-payment.

Source: BSS