97,021 pilgrims deposit Hajj money with banks

For performing the Holy Hajj this year, 97,021 pilgrims have so far deposited money with different government and non-government banks, an official said.

Of them, 1,500 pilgrims will perform Hajj through government management and the rest 95,521 through private management.

Assistant Hajj Officer under the Ministry of Religious Affairs (MoRA) Abdul Malak said they have received the figure from different banks on June 01, 2014. Next processes will start after getting papers from the banks.

This year Saudi government has allowed Bangladesh government to send 1,01,758 pilgrims. Of them, 10,000   may go through government management and the rest 91,758 may go under the private management, according to Hajj office.

Almost 15 per cent Hajj pilgrims out of government's target of 10,000 in the government management have deposited their Hajj money but the number of pilgrims in the private management has surpassed the target, Hajj office data show.

At the end of March this year, the cabinet approved the draft National Hajj and Umrah Policy 1435 Hijri (2014 AD) and the Hajj Package, 2014.

According to the new policy, there will be two packages this year under the government management.

The total cost for the pilgrimage of a person will stand at Tk 3,54,316 for package one while Tk 295,776 for package two.