Less than 50 per cent of Bangladeshi pilgrims have completed registration against the quota set for the country this year until Wednesday deadline.
As per the government's hajj management web portal, a total of 53,115 pilgrims completed registration until the filing of this report at 8:30 pm.
Of those who want to be on the pilgrimage, 3,802 have so far been enlisted under government arrangements, while 49,313 under private agencies.
When asked, sources at the Hajj Agencies Association of Bangladesh said the high-priced special package mostly discouraged many Bangladeshis to perform hajj this year.
"The general package offers potential pilgrims a reasonable rate, but the inconvenience of staying a long distance from the hajj site is also demotivating them to go to Saudi Arabia."
The would-be pilgrims need to pay Tk 578,840 under general package and Tk 936,320 under special package.
The Saudi government approved a quota for 127,198 Bangladeshis to perform hajj for the calendar year 2024. Of them, 10,198 can perform hajj under the government management.
The hajj registration process began on 15 November. However, the deadline was extended thrice.
However, official sources said the time would not be extended any more.
"We won't extend the time as we have to go through some procedure to manage hajj pilgrims," said Matiul Islam, additional secretary (hajj wing) at religious affairs ministry.
"We want the quota to be fulfilled, but at the same time, we attach the highest importance to the proper management for hajj performance."
The government extended the hajj registration deadline until January 18 with an eye to ensuring hassle-free services.
As per a December 28 notice, hajj aspirants have to deposit Tk 205,000 for primary registration and the remaining amount to be deposited by February 29 for final registration.
The registration server would be stopped automatically once the registration quota was finished, it added.
This year, hajj will be performed on the ninth day of Zilhaj (16 June) subject to the sighting of the moon.
On November 02, the government announced the hajj packages for 2024, reducing the cost by Tk 92,450.
A total of 122,558 Bangladeshis performed hajj, a ritual which is mandatory for the affluent Muslims at least once in a lifetime, in 2023 against the quota of 127,198 devotees.
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