Why has the cost of Hajj increased so much this year

 

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A resident of Bagmara Upazila of Rajshahi raised around seven and a half lakh taka in 2020 to go to the holy Hajj with his wife. Kofil Uddin. At that time, the price of the 'normal' package for private Hajj was Tk 3 lakh 61 thousand 800 per person. However, due to the corona epidemic, they could not go at the last moment that year.

Kofil Uddin is again planning to go to Hajj this year. But after searching, he found out that this year, the price of Hajj package per person has been estimated at least 6 lakh 72 thousand 617 Taka. That is, this is the lowest package price, but it is almost double the cost of three years ago.

Hajj package price has been fixed by 10,000 Taka's this year. It has been calculated that compared to last year, the cost of performing Hajj has increased by 29 percent or about one and a half lakh taka. 

Rajshahi's Kafil Uddin is now thinking how to raise extra money. His plan is to sell some of his land. But maybe not everyone has the consistency to sell land like him. As a result, many people who want to perform Hajj have hesitated due to the price increase.

The Holy Hajj can be held on June 27 (9 Zilhaj) subject to moon sighting. As many people register to perform Hajj every year, majority of them go for Hajj through various private Hajj management institutions.

Bilateral Hajj agreement was signed between Bangladesh and Saudi Arabia last month. According to the agreement, a total of 1 lakh 27 thousand 198 people from Bangladesh will be able to perform the holy Hajj this year. Among them 15 thousand under government management and 1 lakh 12 thousand 198 under private management can go for Hajj. 

What is the cause of cost increase?

Hajj Agencies Association of Bangladesh (HAB) President M Shahadat Hossain said that the cost of air fare, Makkah-Madinah house rent and service costs have increased this year. Along with this, due to the increase in the exchange rate of the dollar and Saudi Riyal, the overall cost of performing Hajj has increased.

Shahadat Hossain also said that in the current economic situation of the country, the increase in the cost of Hajj packages is definitely stressful for Hajj pilgrims. However, efforts are being made to keep this financial pressure as low as possible, he said.

The hub sets the package prices for Hajj pilgrims under private management. But in this case hub arranges their package based on government package price.

According to the organization's data, last year the minimum cost of a private 'ordinary' Hajj package excluding sacrifices was Tk 522,000. This year the expenditure has been estimated at 6 lakh 72 thousand 618 taka. That is, the cost has increased by 1 lakh 50 thousand 618 taka in one year.

According to the information of the Ministry of Religious Affairs, there were two packages of Hajjatra last year. The cost of one of them (without sacrifice) was 5 lakh 27 thousand 340 taka and the cost of the other was 4 lakh 62 thousand 149 taka.

This year only one package has been officially kept for Hajj and the cost for this has been estimated at 6 lakh 83 thousand 15 taka. In other words, compared to last year, the official cost of Hajj has increased from a minimum of 1 lakh 55 thousand 675 taka to a maximum of 2 lakh 20 thousand 865 taka.

Additional Secretary of Hajj Department of the Ministry of Religious Affairs. Motiul Islam told 'We have discussed several times with all parties so that the cost of Hajj package can be kept at a bearable level for the sake of Hajids. It is on that basis that the current package has been decided.'

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