Staff Reporter :
A total of 127,198 Bangladeshi people will perform Hajj this year, said Religious Affairs Minister Principal Motiur Rahman on Sunday.
Of them, 7,198 pilgrims will perform Hajj under the government management, while the rest 120,000 under non-government management, he said.
The minister made the discloser at a press conference at his Secretariat office yesterday.
Meanwhile, a deal has been signed between the Saudi government and Bangladesh in Mukkah Al Mukarrama in Saudi Arabia in this regard.
Religious Affairs Minister Motiur Rahman was present there on behalf of the Bangladesh government and Dr. Mohammad Saleh Bin Taher Bentan, Saudi Omrah and Hajj Affairs Minister, on behalf of Saudi Arabia.
Motiur Rahman also requested the private hajj agencies to be more careful and dutiful to hajj pilgrims.
“State owned Biman Bangladesh Airlines will carry 50 percent of the Hajj pilgrims like it did in the previous year while Saudia Airlines will arrange flights for the other 50 percent people,” the minister said.
“The Saudi government imposed a 5 percent VAT on all their products and services from January 1.”
He added that the newly imposed VAT might hike the prices of housing, food and transportation in Saudi Arabia.
However, he assured that the ministry would make an effort to ensure that the Hajj pilgrims are not affected by it.
Responding to a query, the minister stated that so far 229,764 people have completed pre-registration for Hajj.
“After scrutiny, the registration process will start from February 1, and will continue till February 28. We have also requested the Saudi government to increase quota for Bangladeshi pilgrims this year and they have agreed to consider the matter.” he said.
“We also requested the Saudi government for sending Bangladeshi Hajj pilgrims on ships, but they rejected our request. A Mumbai to Saudi Arabia trip through ships take only three to four days, but from Bangladesh it takes from 17 to 18 days.”
Talking to the media, minister revealed that the government is yet to set the Hajj package fees.
He also said, “The package fees are yet to be decided, because the Saudi government has not made it clear which sectors will get tax exemption from the newly implemented 5 percent VAT.”
“It would take two more weeks for us to announce the fees, as we need to know more details about it.”
About the allegations of irregularities against several Hajj agencies, he said, there are various complaints against 245 agencies, and the allegations are being investigated. We will take action against them after the probe report is submitted.
A total of 127,198 Bangladeshi people will perform Hajj this year, said Religious Affairs Minister Principal Motiur Rahman on Sunday.
Of them, 7,198 pilgrims will perform Hajj under the government management, while the rest 120,000 under non-government management, he said.
The minister made the discloser at a press conference at his Secretariat office yesterday.
Meanwhile, a deal has been signed between the Saudi government and Bangladesh in Mukkah Al Mukarrama in Saudi Arabia in this regard.
Religious Affairs Minister Motiur Rahman was present there on behalf of the Bangladesh government and Dr. Mohammad Saleh Bin Taher Bentan, Saudi Omrah and Hajj Affairs Minister, on behalf of Saudi Arabia.
Motiur Rahman also requested the private hajj agencies to be more careful and dutiful to hajj pilgrims.
“State owned Biman Bangladesh Airlines will carry 50 percent of the Hajj pilgrims like it did in the previous year while Saudia Airlines will arrange flights for the other 50 percent people,” the minister said.
“The Saudi government imposed a 5 percent VAT on all their products and services from January 1.”
He added that the newly imposed VAT might hike the prices of housing, food and transportation in Saudi Arabia.
However, he assured that the ministry would make an effort to ensure that the Hajj pilgrims are not affected by it.
Responding to a query, the minister stated that so far 229,764 people have completed pre-registration for Hajj.
“After scrutiny, the registration process will start from February 1, and will continue till February 28. We have also requested the Saudi government to increase quota for Bangladeshi pilgrims this year and they have agreed to consider the matter.” he said.
“We also requested the Saudi government for sending Bangladeshi Hajj pilgrims on ships, but they rejected our request. A Mumbai to Saudi Arabia trip through ships take only three to four days, but from Bangladesh it takes from 17 to 18 days.”
Talking to the media, minister revealed that the government is yet to set the Hajj package fees.
He also said, “The package fees are yet to be decided, because the Saudi government has not made it clear which sectors will get tax exemption from the newly implemented 5 percent VAT.”
“It would take two more weeks for us to announce the fees, as we need to know more details about it.”
About the allegations of irregularities against several Hajj agencies, he said, there are various complaints against 245 agencies, and the allegations are being investigated. We will take action against them after the probe report is submitted.
