The prices of Hajj packages have been increased by Tk59,000 for Bangladeshi Hajj pilgrims, State Minister for Religious Affairs Md Faridul Haque Khan has said.
His announcement came at a press conference held at the ministry on Thursday.
Following the change, package No 1 now costs Tk5,86,340 and package No 2 costs Tk5,21,150, he said, before adding that Bangladeshi pilgrims must deposit the additional money by May 30.
“For the convenience of the pilgrims, the banks will be open on Friday and Saturday. The increase was due to the Saudi Arabia government raising the Moallem (guide) fee,” he added.
He mentioned that the least expensive private package is now set at Tk5,22,744.
Previously, Hajj Agencies Association of Bangladesh (HAAB) announced a general Hajj package of Tk4.63 lakh.
The first Hajj flight from Bangladesh slated to depart on May 31 has been rescheduled to June 5.
This year, a total 57,856 pilgrims from Bangladesh will be allowed to take part in Hajj.
Hajj is open to those who are fully vaccinated against Covid-19 and are under the age of 65.
Pilgrims travelling from abroad will also need to have a negative PCR test certificate, taken no more than 72 hours before their departure for Saudi Arabia.
Last year, only 58,745 pilgrims performed Hajj from across the world because of the Covid-19 pandemic.
Before the pandemic, some 2.5 million people used to travel every year to Saudi Arabia for Hajj.