Dhaka Bureau: Every year when the Hajj season comes, the agents are in a frozen state under the pressure of registering the Hajj pilgrims. Many pilgrims cannot go to Haj due to a lack of quota despite their efforts. However, an exceptional event is happening this year in the history of the country. Although the three-phase Hajj registration period has been extended, the quota is not being fulfilled. After the Corona epidemic, this time Bangladesh has the opportunity to send the full quota of 1 lakh, 27 thousand, and 197 pilgrims. However, many have lost the ability to go to Hajj after spending more than 7 lakh taka, despite having a sincere desire. This jump in costs has discouraged many devout Muslims from performing the Hajj this year. Many middle-class Muslims have canceled their intention to perform Hajj this year after seeing the huge cost of spending four to five lakhs for a long time. Some are performing Umrah instead.
Hajj registration ends today, March 16. Since the quota was not fulfilled earlier, the Hajj registration period has been extended three times since February 8. This time, 99,000 pilgrims have been registered for Hajj from Bangladesh as of 9:30 p.m. yesterday, both government and private. 28 thousand more pilgrims are needed to fulfill the quota. Some of them are canceling pre-registration. Deposited money is also withdrawn. Meanwhile, compared to last year, the price of the Hajj package has increased by two lakh taka. Airfare is one of the factors that increase the cost of Hajj.
High Court asked to reduce the cost: In view of the writ to re-determine the cost by amending the ‘Hajj Package 2023’, the High Court has asked the Attorney General AM Amin Uddin to take initiatives to reduce the cost of the Hajj package announced this year on Tuesday. The court said that, thinking about the common people who want to go for Hajj, you should talk to the concerned authorities. Take initiatives on how to reduce costs. A High Court bench of Justice KM Kamrul Quader and Justice Mohammad Ali adjourned the hearing of the writ in this regard and asked for initiatives to reduce costs.
Recommendation to reduce air fare by 1.5 lakh takas: A parliamentary committee has recommended a reduction in air fares for Hajj pilgrims. The committee recommended reducing the air fare from Tk 1 lakh 97 thousand 797 to Tk 1 lakh 50 thousand. This recommendation was made in the meeting of the Parliamentary Committee on the Ministry of Religion held at the Sangsad Bhawan on Wednesday. The meeting recommended the inclusion of doctors specializing in heart disease, asthma, and diabetes in the medical team of pilgrims. The committee recommends early completion of the induction program for Bangladeshi students studying in various universities in Saudi Arabia to assist Haj pilgrims. Chairman of the committee In the meeting chaired by Hafez Ruhul Amin Madani, members Syed Najibul Bashar Maizbhandari, Jinnatul Bakiya, Mosa, Tahmina Begum, and Ratna Ahmed participated. Meanwhile, the Islamic Freedom Fighters Generation Parishad demanded 450,000 Haj packages in a human chain in front of the National Press Club yesterday.
