The Saudi government has imposed a 5 per cent VAT on all services, including procurement, which is expected to impact accommodation, food and transportation costs for Hajj pilgrims this year. Meanwhile, the Saudi government has fixed Bangladesh’s quota of Hajj pilgrims at 1,27,198 people for this year’s pilgrimage. Religious affairs minister Principal Motiur Rahman gave this information to reporters at a press briefing held at the Secretariat yesterday. A deal in this respect was signed between the governments of Saudi Arabia and Bangladesh at Al Mukarram in Makkah city of Saudi Arabia on January 14. “The Saudi government’s decision to impose VAT has become effective from January 1. The ministry will keep an eye on the Saudi decision to ensure that it doesn’t have any impact on Bangladeshi Hajj pilgrims,” the minister said. The government will announce the Hajj package after receiving the Saudi government’s VAT-related documents, he added.

According to the minister, a total of 1.20 lakh pilgrims will perform Hajj under private management and 7,198 under government management. The minister also urged the private Hajj agencies not to harass the pilgrims but to be careful and dutiful in providing services to them.

Warning the private Hajj agencies, Rahman said, “Stern action will be taken if any Hajj agency is found to be involved in fraud, harassment and negligence while dealing with Hajj pilgrims. We won’t tolerate any irregularities in this regard. The private Hajj agencies must

ensure their services to Hajj pilgrims follow the Hajj policy and the Saudi government’s directives.”

Bangladesh’s proposal to increase the Hajj quota is under the consideration of the Saudi government, the minister said in reply to a query.

Bangladesh Biman and Saudi Arabian Airlines will carry 50 per cent each of the Hajj pilgrims, said the minister. Rahman said the ministry had also taken steps to prevent disorder in Biman’s Hajj flights. Replying to a query, the minister also said that an investigation was on into irregularities committed by 245 private Hajj agencies.

“Bangladesh had proposed to transport Hajj passengers through sea but the Saudi government didn’t approve the proposal,” the religious affairs minister said. However, at least 7,000 Indian Hajj pilgrims will travel to Saudi Arabia by sea.

The minister said at least three to four days were needed to travel from India to Saudi Arabia by sea but the journey took 17–18 days from Bangladesh.

“We had submitted our proposal to the Saudi government to allow some Hajj pilgrims to travel by sea from Bangladesh to reduce cost. But the proposal was turned down in view of the time constraint,” the religious affairs minister said. Religious affairs ministry secretary-in-charge Anisur Rahman, Biman Bangladesh Airlines’ managing director and HAAB leaders, among others, were present at the press briefing.