The government has approved 914 Hajj agencies for sending pilgrims to Saudi Arabia this year. The Ministry of Religious Affairs put out a list of approved Hajj agencies yesterday (Wednesday). It was signed by assistant secretary (Hajj) SM Mohirizzaman.

“The government will take a decision soon regarding agencies that are yet to submit documents to the ministry for approval. Besides, a decision will be taken against agencies that have been punished or penalised for irregularities on the basis of complaints filed by pilgrims,” Anisur Rahman, secretary of the ministry, told this correspondent.

The government has cancelled licenses of 80 Hajj agencies and also confiscated their deposit for various irregularities in Hajj management in 2017. Besides, the activities of 18 Hajj agencies have been suspended for three years and 153 agencies penalised for mismanagement in 2017.

Various allegations were made against 245 Hajj agencies, out of the 635 approved by the government, in 2017.

On February 27, the government put out a list of 774 Hajj agencies to send pilgrims for the 2018 Hajj under private management. The second list of 140 agencies was put out yesterday.

According to the Hajj agreement with Saudi Arabia, 1,27,198 pilgrims from Bangladesh will be able to perform Hajj this year. Of them, 7,198 will travel to Saudi Arabia under government management and 1,20,000 under private management.

On Monday, the cabinet approved the draft Hajj Package, 2018. The total cost of Hajj Package-1 under government management will be a maximum of Tk. 3,97,929, and Tk. 3,31,359 under Hajj Package-2.

On March 5, the Hajj Agencies Association of Bangladesh (HAAB) announced Hajj packages, keeping the minimum cost at Tk. 3,32,868 per pilgrim under private management.

Pilgrims wanting to perform Hajj under government arrangement can deposit the money till March 11 after completing registration. Those opting for private management can deposit the money till April 15. Flights carrying Bangladeshi pilgrims to Saudi Arabia to perform Hajj this year will begin on July 14.