An intended hajj pilgrim will have to spend minimum Tk 0.463 million (or Tk 4,63,744) for performing hajj under private management this year, according to HAAB.
"This year, a 'general package' has been arranged for hajj pilgrimage under private management. An individual will have to spend Tk4,63,744 (excluding the cost for Qurbani) for performing hajj this year under private management (hajj agencies)," President of Hajj Agencies Association of Bangladesh (HAAB) M Shahadat Hossain Taslim disclosed this at a press briefing at a hotel in the city's Naya Paltan on Thursday.
The holy Hajj will be performed on July 8 subject to moon sighting.
A total of 57,585 Bangladeshis will get the chance for performing hajj this year.
Of the total, 4,000 will perform hajj under government arrangement while the rest through local hajj agencies or private management, according to the Ministry of Religious Affairs.
Mr Taslim said the hajj agencies might arrange their respective special packages apart from the declared general package.
"Apart from the general package, each hajj agency may also arrange 'special package' for hajj pilgrimage. But the rate of any special package may not be lower than that of the HAAB-declared package," he said.
Accommodation for the hajj pilgrims under 'general package' will be arranged within 1,000 to 1,500 metre radius of Holy Kaaba, he added.
He, however, said the intended hajjis will have to bear an additional cost considering it an expenditure of 'general package ' if the Saudi Arabian government imposes any additional fees further.
Mr Taslim further said each intended hajji must carry Saudi Riyal 810 (or equivalent Bangladeshi Tk19,683) for bearing the cost of 'Qurbani' (slaughtering sacrificial animal).
He said the expense for performing hajj has increased this year due to 15 per cent value-added tax (VAT), increased service charge and house rent in Saudi Arabia.
Mr Taslim called upon the government to arrange dedicated flights to ensure hassle-free pilgrimage for the hajjis.
The national flag carrier Biman Bangladesh Airlines, Saudi Arabian Airlines and Flynas (Saudi Arabian carrier) will ferry hajj pilgrims to Saudi Arabia from Bangladesh.
Intended hajjj pilgrims must deposit money to their respective hajj agencies by May 18 and take money receipt.
"I call upon the intended hajj pilgrims, please take your money receipt when you sign a deal with any hajj agency," Mr Taslim cautioned.
Earlier the government announced that the first hajj flight will take off on May 31.
But the HAAB president said it will be better for them if the hajj flights start from June 10; as they have some more tasks to complete.
This year the government has fixed Tk1,40,000 (dedicated hajj flight) as plane fare per hajj pilgrim.
Saudia Airlines and Flynas will share around 26,500 hajj pilgrims (passengers) from Bangladesh.
Biman will carry 31,000 Bangladeshi hajj pilgrims on its 75 dedicated flights and the rest will be carried by Saudi Airlines and Flynas, according to the Ministry of Civil Aviation and Tourism.
Biman and Saudi Airlines were the only two airlines transporting pilgrims from Dhaka to Saudi Arabia since 2012 as per hajj agreement signed between the two countries.
Earlier State Minister for Religious Affairs Md Faridul Haque Khan during an executive committee meeting on hajj management on Wednesday at his ministry announced two packages for performing holy hajj under government management.
As per the government-declared package-1, an intended hajj pilgrim will have to spend Tk5,27,340 while as per package-2 it is Tk4,62,150.
The government fixed Tk4,56,630 for performing hajj under private management.
This year package -1 cost has been increased to Tk1,02,340 while package-2 expenditure has been raised to Tk1,02,150.
As per the government decision, the hajj package price of the hajj agencies must not be below the government-declared package- 2 and nor will it be higher than package-1.
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