Desk Report:
To reduce the expenses of Hajj pilgrims, the government has reduced the price of Hajj air tickets by another Tk 25,000 to Tk 1.3 million this year. At the same time, initiatives have been taken to reduce airport construction tax in Saudi Arabia and ensure special facilities to reduce accommodation costs for Bangladeshi Hajj pilgrims.
State Minister for Civil Aviation and Tourism M Rashiduzzaman Millat, MP, said these things while addressing the inaugural ceremony of the three-day National Hajj and Umrah Fair-2026 organized by the Hajj Agencies Association of Bangladesh (HAB) at the Bangladesh-China Friendship Conference Center in the capital on Thursday (July 30, 2026) morning.
The State Minister said that the current government under the leadership of Prime Minister Tarique Rahman is working relentlessly for the development of the country, keeping in mind the theme of ‘Bangladesh first’. In this context, the government is giving utmost importance to ensuring that Hajj is performed at a reasonable cost and in a harassment-free environment.
He said that last year, the price of Hajj air tickets was reduced by 12,000 taka. This time, the price of each ticket has been reduced by another 25,000 taka to 130,000 taka.
The State Minister also said that the Ministry of Civil Aviation and Tourism has requested the Saudi government to reduce the Saudi airport construction tax imposed on air tickets. In addition, detailed discussions have been held with the Saudi ambassador to reduce the accommodation costs of Bangladeshi Hajj pilgrims.
He said that no kind of fraud with Hajj pilgrims will be tolerated and the highest punitive action will be taken against those involved in such crimes. At the same time, he sought prayers from the countrymen for the successful implementation of the promises announced in the government’s election manifesto.
At the event, Religious Affairs Secretary Munshi Alauddin Al Azad NDC said that only five percent of Bangladeshi pilgrims perform Hajj under government management, while about 95 percent go to Saudi Arabia through private Hajj agencies. Therefore, he urged the owners of Hajj agencies to refrain from any activities that tarnish the image of the government.
Deputy Head of Mission of the Embassy of Saudi Arabia in Bangladesh Khalid Saeed Al Hadal, leaders of the Hajj Agencies Association of Bangladesh (HAAB) and a large number of Hajj and Umrah aspirants were present at the event.
