Kamaruzzaman Bablu :
Claiming the plane fare fixed for the Hajj pilgrims as ‘illogical and unethical’, the Hajj Agencies Association of Bangladesh (HAAB) on Thursday demanded refixation of the fare.
At the same time, the apex body of the country’s Hajj agents sought the Prime Minister’s interference in this regard.
“Although the jet fuel price has decreased this year in the global market and no new charges or taxes were imposed, the Civil Aviation and Tourism Ministry has fixed the plane fare for the Jajj pilgrims at Tk 1.40 lakh, increasing Tk 12,000, bypassing the Ministry of Religious Affairs Ministry and HAAB,” said HAAB President Shahadat Hossain Taslim at a press conference at its Nayapaltan office.
The HAAB president also said, “The decision was illogical and unethical.”
He also demanded refixation of the plane fare for the dedicated flight passengers and schedule flight passengers separately.
Taslim said although performance of the Hajj is mandatory for every solvent and physically able people, the HAAB doesn’t want to misuse the money of a Hajj pilgrim unnecessarily.
“The jet fuel price is now at per liter US$0.58, which was around $0.71 last year. At the same time, other charges and taxes were also not increased. Although the price reduced by $0.13 per liter, the ministry has decided to increase the plane fare at Tk 1.40 lakh hiking it by Tk 12,000 per person instead of decreasing the price,” he added.
He also said that opposing the Civil Aviation Ministry proposal to increase the airfare, State Minister for Religious Affairs Sheikh Md. Abdullah walked out from an inter-ministerial level meeting held at the Civil Aviation Ministry on Monday.
“They will not comply with the Civil Aviation Ministry decision unless the plane fare is reduced. At the same time, they will not co-operate with the ministry to finalise the Hajj package this year until the decision is changed, Asses the HAAB president.
With thos decision, the Bangladeshi pilgrims will have to pay Tk 164.4 crore extra this year. It will go to the pockets of Biman Bangladesh Airlines and Saudi Arabian Airlines. Although the Saudi Airlines doesn’t want, they will automatically get extra Tk 82.20 crore for increase of plane fare.
Blaming the Civil Aviation Ministry Senior Secretary for the hike, he said although State Minister for Civil Aviation and Tourism Mahbub Ali was flexible on the issue, the plane fare was increased due to its Senior Secretary Md. Mohibul Haque.
The Civil Aviation Ministry proposed the government to fix the plane fare at Tk 1.54 lakh for each of the pilgrim this year. It was only Tk 1.28 lakh in last year. Bypassing the opposition of the Religious Affairs Ministry and HAAB, the Civil Aviation Ministry has decided pane fair at Tk 1.40 lakh this year.
HAAB President Taslim said considering overall situation and decrease of jet fuel price in the global market, the plane fare should be fixed at only Tk one lakh to 1lakh ten thousand.
Earlier on Wednesday, State Minister for Religious Affairs Sheikh Md. Abdullah told this correspondent that they are not satisfied with the Civil Aviation Ministry’s decision. They are trying to manage the ministry and reduce the plane fare considering the sufferings of the Bangladeshi Hajj pilgrims.
Claiming the plane fare fixed for the Hajj pilgrims as ‘illogical and unethical’, the Hajj Agencies Association of Bangladesh (HAAB) on Thursday demanded refixation of the fare.
At the same time, the apex body of the country’s Hajj agents sought the Prime Minister’s interference in this regard.
“Although the jet fuel price has decreased this year in the global market and no new charges or taxes were imposed, the Civil Aviation and Tourism Ministry has fixed the plane fare for the Jajj pilgrims at Tk 1.40 lakh, increasing Tk 12,000, bypassing the Ministry of Religious Affairs Ministry and HAAB,” said HAAB President Shahadat Hossain Taslim at a press conference at its Nayapaltan office.
The HAAB president also said, “The decision was illogical and unethical.”
He also demanded refixation of the plane fare for the dedicated flight passengers and schedule flight passengers separately.
Taslim said although performance of the Hajj is mandatory for every solvent and physically able people, the HAAB doesn’t want to misuse the money of a Hajj pilgrim unnecessarily.
“The jet fuel price is now at per liter US$0.58, which was around $0.71 last year. At the same time, other charges and taxes were also not increased. Although the price reduced by $0.13 per liter, the ministry has decided to increase the plane fare at Tk 1.40 lakh hiking it by Tk 12,000 per person instead of decreasing the price,” he added.
He also said that opposing the Civil Aviation Ministry proposal to increase the airfare, State Minister for Religious Affairs Sheikh Md. Abdullah walked out from an inter-ministerial level meeting held at the Civil Aviation Ministry on Monday.
“They will not comply with the Civil Aviation Ministry decision unless the plane fare is reduced. At the same time, they will not co-operate with the ministry to finalise the Hajj package this year until the decision is changed, Asses the HAAB president.
With thos decision, the Bangladeshi pilgrims will have to pay Tk 164.4 crore extra this year. It will go to the pockets of Biman Bangladesh Airlines and Saudi Arabian Airlines. Although the Saudi Airlines doesn’t want, they will automatically get extra Tk 82.20 crore for increase of plane fare.
Blaming the Civil Aviation Ministry Senior Secretary for the hike, he said although State Minister for Civil Aviation and Tourism Mahbub Ali was flexible on the issue, the plane fare was increased due to its Senior Secretary Md. Mohibul Haque.
The Civil Aviation Ministry proposed the government to fix the plane fare at Tk 1.54 lakh for each of the pilgrim this year. It was only Tk 1.28 lakh in last year. Bypassing the opposition of the Religious Affairs Ministry and HAAB, the Civil Aviation Ministry has decided pane fair at Tk 1.40 lakh this year.
HAAB President Taslim said considering overall situation and decrease of jet fuel price in the global market, the plane fare should be fixed at only Tk one lakh to 1lakh ten thousand.
Earlier on Wednesday, State Minister for Religious Affairs Sheikh Md. Abdullah told this correspondent that they are not satisfied with the Civil Aviation Ministry’s decision. They are trying to manage the ministry and reduce the plane fare considering the sufferings of the Bangladeshi Hajj pilgrims.
