A Hajj pilgrim can carry upto US$ 1000 or equivalent currencies while performing the next pilgrimage.
This is applicable for both ballotee and non-ballootee Hajis, according to a circular issued Wednesday by Bangladesh Bank.
This amount is completely out of the overall expenses estimated by the ministry concerned for performing the next pilgrimage, known as Hajj.
The next Hajj may take place on August 9 depending on the sighting of the Arabic month moon.
Sources at the foreign currency policy department of the Bangladesh Bank told the FE that the central bank kept unchanged the amount as it believes that this amount is sufficient to bear the costs during the Hajj performance.
"This is completely a Bangladesh Bank issue. And we did not revise the amount considering the financial burden of a Hajj pilgrim," said an official at the department of the BB.
In the meantime, Hajj Agencies Association of Bangladesh (HAAB) told the FE that this announcement would help many prepare their plans in advance.
M Shahadat Hossain Taslim, secretary general at the HAAB hailed the central bank decision as there are many individuals who had already spent their yearly foreign currency ceiling.
"I think this will help facilitate many especially for those who have already spent their limit of carrying foreign currency in abroad."
Under the Foreign Exchange Regulations for Individuals, a Bangladeshi national is allowed to carry up to $12,000 or other equivalent currency in cash or credit for all their travels abroad in a year.
For each travel, up to $5,000 or equivalent can be taken to South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) member countries and Myanmar. For the other countries, up to $7,000 can be taken.
According to a portal of the Hajj Management Committee of the Ministry of Religious Affairs, a total 1,27,198 people can perform pilgrimage this year.
Of it, ballotee hajis will be 7198 while the rest 1,20,000 will fall under non-ballotees.
On the other hand, there are two packages in the government management and these are Tk 3,97,929 and Tk 3,31,359 respectively.
The government fixed the lowest package under private management at Tk 3,32,868 this year.
An additional Tk 11,000 will be charged along with the package for the purpose of sacrificial animals, HAAB sources said.
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