The Hajj Agencies Association of Bangladesh (HAAB) has alleged that rising costs of this year's Hajj packages are being driven largely by the influence of middlemen, along with increased airfare, accommodation, and service expenses.
The allegations were made at a press conference on Saturday at the Ashkona Hajj Camp in the capital, where HAAB leaders presented updates on the 2026 Hajj operations.
Speaking at the event, HAAB Secretary General Farid Ahmed Mazumder claimed that several airlines, including Biman Bangladesh Airlines, are charging Hajj pilgrims up to Tk 54,000 extra by operating regular scheduled flights under the label of "Hajj dedicated flights."
He said that although the core Hajj rituals last only five days, many pilgrims are being forced to stay in Saudi Arabia for nearly 40 additional days due to flight scheduling constraints. He added that reducing the waiting period would significantly cut both time and costs for pilgrims.
Mazumder also said airlines argue that return flights often operate with many empty seats, which they cite as justification for higher fares. However, he described the current airfare of around Tk 154,000 as excessive, adding that efforts would be made to bring ticket prices down to around Tk 100,000 in the future. Lower fares, he said, would encourage more people to perform Hajj.
HAAB President Syed Golam Sarwar said middlemen are collecting an additional Tk 50,000 to Tk 100,000 from pilgrims, significantly increasing overall costs. He said the issue would be raised with the government in search of a long-term solution.
He also expressed optimism that total Hajj expenses could eventually be reduced to between Tk 500,000 and Tk 600,000.
According to him, airfare for pilgrims could come down to around Tk 100,000 by 2027 if irregularities and intermediary influence are reduced.
HAAB further said that 59,055 Bangladeshi pilgrims have so far travelled to Saudi Arabia on 154 flights during the current Hajj season. The association expects all 78,000 pilgrims to arrive by May 21.
