The Ministry of Religious Affairs has instructed the Ministry of Civil Aviation and Tourism and national flag carrier Biman Bangladesh Airlines to reduce airfare for Hajj pilgrims.
They have sent a notice to the concerned authorities, that reads: “After the announcement of the Hajj packages, the Ministry of Religious Affairs has been receiving negative reactions from pilgrims, Hajj agencies and newspapers. A petition was filed in court regarding the annual Hajj registration as the airfare is high.”
The notification reads that after the hearing of writ, the High Court ordered to reduce airfares for the Hajj pilgrims.
“In a meeting held by the Parliamentary Standing Committee of the Ministry of Religious Affairs, in the presence of the managing director of Biman, it was recommended to reduce the airfare,” it reads.
The High Court on Tuesday commented that the Hajj packages of the present year are inhumane.
A High Court bench comprising Justice KM Kamrul Quader and Justice Mohammad Ali made the comments during the hearing of the writ seeking direction to reduce the cost of Hajj.
In the hearing, the court said: "This time Hajj expense is so high that let alone common people, we ourselves are scared by it."
Referring to the Ministry of Religious Affairs, the court said: "As a result of fixing the cost so high, those who are eligible are not able to go for Hajj. It is an inhumane Hajj package. Those involved in its formation will share in the guilt."
Regarding airfares, the court said: "Airlines cannot impose the responsibility of crores of taka on Hajj passengers. There are Hajj funds in Malaysia and Indonesia. Bangladesh and India have less funds. Only Bangabandhu thought about it. After him, nobody thought about it."
"There is an attempt to do business here," the court said referring to not having the facility to purchase tickets for any other airline other than Saudi and Biman Bangladesh Airlines.
