Bangladeshis who wish to perform hajj will have to spend around Tk 1 lakh more for the pilgrimage this year due to the increase of Saudi Riyal exchange rate and service charges there.

The Ministry of Religious Affairs on Wednesday (May 11) proposed two government-approved Hajj packages apart from the package under private management.

Package-1 and package-2 will cost Tk5,27,340 and Tk4,62,000 respectively, State Minister for Religious Affairs Faridul Haque Khan said after a meeting of the executive committee on hajj management at the Secretariat in the capital.

So, the price of government-approved package-1 has increased by Tk1,02,340 and the price of package-2 has increased by Tk1,02,150 in comparison to the cost in 2020.

Besides, the government proposed Tk 4,56,530 hajj package this year under private management -- around Tk 94,730 more than that of 2020.

Regarding the increase of Hajj package prices, the state minister said out the increased Saudi Riyal exchange rate as one of the primary causes. 

Moreover, the Saudi government has imposed a 15% VAT, tax and service charge on all sectors, while the house rent and other costs have also gone up significantly, Faridul Haque Khan added.

BDST: 1634 HRS, MAY 01, 2022
MSK/SMS