The airfare for Hajj was yesterday fixed at Tk 1.4 lakh this year, up 12,000 from 2019, when Bangladeshis were last allowed in Saudi Arabia for the pilgrimage.
“As you know, the price of jet fuel has doubled,” said M Mahbub Ali, state minister for civil aviation, which fixed the airfare following discussions with different stakeholders.
If the higher fuel price is considered, the airfare should be Tk 1.5 lakh.
“But thinking about the hajis, we have fixed the airfare at Tk 1.4 lakh. Saudi Airlines will also keep the same fare.”
Biman’s two Boeing 777 aircraft will be used to operate dedicated hajj flights to ferry pilgrims to Saudi Arabia. The state carrier will operate 75 dedicated hajj flights this year.
Since the Saudi authorities will allocate a slot to Biman, the final decision to begin the hajj flight depends on their permission, Ali said, adding that it is expected to start from May 31.
The Hajj Agencies Association of Bangladesh (HAAB), a platform of more than 1,500 hajj operators, are not happy with the airfare.
“We as well as the religious affairs ministry had recommended fixing the hajj airfare at Tk 1.25 lakh. But the ministry didn’t pay heed to our demand,” M Shahadat Hossain Taslim, president of HAAB, told The Daily Star.
After a gap of two years, Bangladeshis will once again be allowed into Saudi Arabia to perform Hajj.
In 2019, a total of 1.27 lakh Bangladeshis were allowed to perform hajj.
This year, the Saudi government will allow one million people from around the world to perform Hajj, with 57,585 being Bangladeshis.
– With The Daily Star input
