The Hajj agencies Thursday requested the government to reopen the third carrier option for smooth journey of the Hajj pilgrims, apart from Biman Bangladesh Airlines and Saudi Arabian Airlines.
The plea came at the inaugural ceremony of the four-day "7th Hajj and Umrah Fair-2014" at the Bangabandhu International Conference Centre (BICC) in the city.
The speakers said without third carrier, the pilgrims will face a lot of hassles to go to Saudi Arabia.
Religious Affairs Minister Motiur Rahman, who was the chief guest at the inaugural ceremony, said the present government will take necessary steps to make Hajj management more efficient.
He said the government had ensured good management for the pilgrims to perform Hajj in the last five years which made Bangladesh 'the best manager of Hajj pilgrims' among the South Asian countries.
Hajj Agencies Association of Bangladesh (HAAB) president Ibrahim Bahar said they are committed to good management for the pilgrims to perform Hajj smoothly.
He requested the pilgrims to directly contact Hajj agents avoiding the third parties to perform Hajj without any hassle.
He said Bangladeshi pilgrims witnessed a high-quality Hajj management in three years - 2009 to 2011 -- as the third carrier option was open.
The HAAB and E3 Solutions Ltd have jointly organised the fair. The fair will remain open to the public from 10:00am to 8:00pm every day. About 145 Hajj agencies and 11 banks and financial institutions are exhibiting their services at the fair.
Recently the cabinet approved the draft National Hajj and Umrah Policy 1435 Hijri (2014 AD) and the Hajj Package, 2014.
According the new policy this year there will be two packages under the government and private management for Hajj.
The total cost for a pilgrim will stand at Tk 354,316 for package one while Tk 295,776 for package two.
A total of 101,758 Bangladeshis will perform Hajj this year. Of them some 10,000 pilgrims will perform Hajj under government arrangement while 91,758 under private arrangement.
Bangladesh Saudi Arabia Friendship Society chairman Bazlul Haque Harun, Hajj officer Jahangir Alam and HAAB secretary general Shaikh Abdullah were present at the occasion.
