Proposed air fare hike for Hajj draws flak

‘Hajj Package-2018’ to be placed before Cabinet today

The government has finalised the draft "Hajj Package-2018" by increasing the air fare to Tk. 13,000 per person amid strong objections from the ministry concerned and the Hajj Agencies Association of Bangladesh (HAAB). The religious affairs ministry will place the draft package before the Cabinet for approval today (Monday). According to sources, the ministry concerned has proposed Tk. 398,000 for Package-1 and Tk. 331,240 for Package-2 for this year’s Hajj. These packages cost Tk. 381,508 and Tk. 319,335 respectively last year. According to the proposed Hajj packages, each Hajj pilgrim will have to cough up an additional Tk. 13,000 as the air fare, which would be higher than the previous year.

HAAB leaders told The Independent that normal passengers pay Tk. 36,000–40,000 for each ticket for the Dhaka-Jeddah-Dhaka trip, while the same flight charges Tk. 49,000–52,000 from each Umrah passenger.  They said the Biman authorities have proposed Tk. 1.37 lakh for each Hajj pilgrim this year.

"It's daylight robbery! The air fare was Tk. 124,723 for each hajj pilgrim last year," said one of the leaders. “We have finalised the draft Hajj Package-2018. It'll be placed before the Cabinet today (Monday) for final approval,” Anisur Rahman, secretary of the religious affairs ministry, told The Independent yesterday.

He said the Biman authorities did not consider any objectoion about hiking the air fare.“Both the ministry and HAAB officials repeatedly objected against  increasing the fare,” he added.  

“We hope that the Cabinet would take a decision in this regard and give final instructions on the air fare,” Rahman said in reply to a query.

He also said that a Hajj agency will supply trolley bags among the pilgrims as per the specifications set by the ministry.

“It's illogical to propose an air fare hike. The Biman authorities are putting pressure on the pilgrims to recover their loss,” HAAB secretary general Shahadat Hossain Taslim told this correspondent. He said the West Bengal government of India had charged each pilgrim Rs. 70,000 last year. “The Biman authorities are charging the air fare three times more from Hajj pilgrims than those paid by the general passengers,” he added.

When contacted, Biman Bangladesh general manager Shakil Miraj cited various reasons for hiking the air fare. “Fuel price has increased four times from the previous year and a 5 per cent VAT has been imposed on the service sector. Besides, all Hajj flights return to Dhaka with empty seats after unloading Hajj pilgrims in Saudi Arabia,” he said. He also claimed that the Saudi government has imposed additional charges at the airport during the Hajj season.

A total of 127,198 Bangladeshi pilgrims will perform Hajj this year. Of them, 7,000 will perform Hajj under government management, while 1,20,198 will go to saudi Arabia under private arrangements.  This year’s Hajj is likely to be celebrated on August 21, depending on the sighting of the moon.

Proposed air fare hike for Hajj draws flak

Hajj Package-2018 to be placed before Cabinet today

The government has finalised the draft Hajj Package-2018 by increasing the air fare to Tk. 13,000 per person amid strong objections from the ministry concerned and the Hajj Agencies Association of Bangladesh (HAAB). The religious affairs ministry will place the draft package before the Cabinet for approval today (Monday). According to sources, the ministry concerned has proposed Tk. 398,000 for Package-1 and Tk. 331,240 for Package-2 for this years Hajj. These packages cost Tk. 381,508 and Tk. 319,335 respectively last year. According to the proposed Hajj packages, each Hajj pilgrim will have to cough up an additional Tk. 13,000 as the air fare, which would be higher than the previous year. HAAB leaders told The Independent that normal passengers pay Tk. 36,00040,000 for each ticket for the Dhaka-Jeddah-Dhaka trip, while the same flight charges Tk. 49,00052,000 from each Umrah passenger. They said the Biman authorities have proposed Tk. 1.37 lakh for each Hajj pilgrim this year. Its daylight robbery! The air fare was Tk. 124,723 for each hajj pilgrim last year, said one of the leaders. We have finalised the draft Hajj Package-2018. Itll be placed before the Cabinet today (Monday) for final approval, Anisur Rahman, secretary of the religious affairs ministry, told The Independent yesterday. He said the Biman authorities did not consider any objectoion about hiking the air fare.Both the ministry and HAAB officials repeatedly objected against increasing the fare, he added. We hope that the Cabinet would take a decision in this regard and give final instructions on the air fare, Rahman said in reply to a query. He also said that a Hajj agency will supply trolley bags among the pilgrims as per the specifications set by the ministry. Its illogical to propose an air fare hike. The Biman authorities are putting pressure on the pilgrims to recover their loss, HAAB secretary general Shahadat Hossain Taslim told this correspondent. He said the West Bengal government of India had charged each pilgrim Rs. 70,000 last year. The Biman authorities are charging the air fare three times more from Hajj pilgrims than those paid by the general passengers, he added. When contacted, Biman Bangladesh general manager Shakil Miraj cited various reasons for hiking the air fare. Fuel price has increased four times from the previous year and a 5 per cent VAT has been imposed on the service sector. Besides, all Hajj flights return to Dhaka with empty seats after unloading Hajj pilgrims in Saudi Arabia, he said. He also claimed that the Saudi government has imposed additional charges at the airport during the Hajj season. A total of 127,198 Bangladeshi pilgrims will perform Hajj this year. Of them, 7,000 will perform Hajj under government management, while 1,20,198 will go to saudi Arabia under private arrangements. This years Hajj is likely to be celebrated on August 21, depending on the sighting of the moon.