NBR exempts Hajj pilgrims from increased excise duty on plane fares

The revenue authorities have decided to withdraw the increased excise duty on plane fares for Hajj pilgrims, leaving the cost for a single ticket at Tk1,24,752.21 this year. The National Board of Revenue is scheduled to issue a circular in this regard by Monday, confirmed a senior official of the board. Sources said that the cabinet declared the fee for a single plane ticket at $1,475 or Tk1,24,752.21, after the excise duty of Tk1,000 was included. The government had decided to increase the excise duty on the tickets to Tk2,000 from July 1, but this change has now been taken out. Thanking Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina for the withdrawal of the increased excise duty on plane tickets for Hajj pilgrims this year, Secretary General of the Hajj Agencies Association of Bangladesh M Shahadat Hossain Taslim told the Dhaka Tribune: “We had written to the Prime Minister asking her to withdraw the increased excise duty on plane fares. It’s a matter of great happiness that she responded to our plea.” The secretary general added that Hajj pilgrims would also be exempted from the Tk2,000 airport building tax to be paid at Jeddah airport, as it had been included in the city checking portion of the ticket price. According to the Civil Aviation and Tourism Ministry, Hajj flights to Saudi Arabia for Bangladeshis will begin on July 24, with the first flight set to carry 419 pilgrims. The flights will continue till August 26 and return flights will begin from September 6 and continue till October 5. A total of 127,198 Bangladeshi pilgrims are registered to perform the Hajj this year.