1.20 lakh to perform Hajj this year
Says state minister
A record number of 1,20,000 Bangladeshis are expected to perform Hajj this year, under government and private managements.
Of the pilgrims, 1,10,000 will perform the Hajj under different Hajj agencies while only 10,000 under official management. The number of Bangladeshi Hajj pilgrims were 1,05,608 last year.
State Minister for Religious Affairs Md Shahjahan Miah said this at a press briefing at his ministry yesterday.
He said an agreement was signed with the Saudi Hajj Ministry at Jeddah on February 28 in this regard during the visit of a five-member Bangladesh delegation led by him.
Shahjahan said they would try not to enhance the rate of Hajj package for the pilgrims this year. Last year's government Hajj package was Tk 2,59,042 for each pilgrim.
He, however, said the final decision would be taken in this regard after discussion with the civil aviation minister.
He said the government had rented 6,000 houses in the holy city of Makkah to accommodate the pilgrims under official management.
About 758 Bangladeshis who had gone to Saudi Arabia for performing Hajj under 10 private Hajj agencies did not return home last year, he said, adding that the agencies would not be allowed to send pilgrims this year and legal action would also be taken against them.
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