Hajj pilgrims to get over Tk3cr refund
Staff Reporter :
Religious Adviser Dr AFM Khalid Hossain on Tuesday said pilgrims under Hajj Package-1 and 2 will get more than Taka three crore back after completing Hajj of 2026.
“We have successfully reduced hotel rent in Makkah and Medina by 1,000 Saudi riyals and transportation cost by 100 Saudi riyals per pilgrim,” he said.
Addressing a press briefing at the ministry conference room on the occasion of his one and a half year tenure, he said, “We have tried to work specifically on the desire of people to perform Hajj at a reasonable cost.”
“Through repeated communication and negotiations with the Ministry of Civil Aviation and Tourism, the airfare for the 2025 Hajj was reduced by about Taka 27,000 while Taka 13,000 was reduced this year. A total of Taka 40,000 was reduced in the last two years,” the adviser added.
He said that service charge per pilgrim under Hajj Package-3 has been reduced by 600 Saudi riyals through fruitful communication with the service provider company.
“We have brought accommodation for pilgrims closer to Haram Sharif. As a result, inconvenience for travel has been reduced and they will be able to perform prayer times in Haram Sharif,” Hossain said.
He said, “I’ve performed my duties with transparency, accountability and honesty for the last one and a half years. I have tried to make the ministry and its subordinate departments and organisations active, dynamic and fruitful.
“Highlighting various initiatives of Islamic Foundation, the adviser said that 163 people were appointed against vacant posts while the appointment process of 197 people was not completed due to litigation.
However, the appointment process will be completed subject to settlement of cases as soon as possible, he said.
Besides, the ministry promoted 29 people from grade-9 and 32 people from grade 20 as per the rules, he said adding that appointing of manpower against vacant posts from grade 9 and above was under process.
Religious secretary Md Kamal Uddin, additional secretaries Md Ayatul Islam and Md Fazlur Rahman and others were present, among others, at the briefing.
