3-day Hajj & Umrah Fair kicks off tomorrow

A three-day Hajj and Umrah Fair 2026 will begin on Thursday, July 30, at Bangladesh-China Friendship Exhibition Center (BCFEC) in Agargaon, Dhaka, aiming to create a direct link between intending pilgrims and government-approved private Hajj agencies while protecting pilgrims from fraud and misinformation.
 
The fair, organized by the Hajj Agencies Association of Bangladesh (HAAB), will continue until August 1, HAAB Secretary General Farid Ahmed Majumder said at a press conference held in Dhaka on Tuesday in the presence of HAAB President Syed Golam Sarwar.

Farid Majumder said that only government-approved Hajj agencies will be allowed to participate in the fair, where they will showcase their Hajj packages, facilities and special discount offers. 

He urged prospective pilgrims to avoid unauthorized middlemen and fraudulent groups that often lure people through attractive advertisements on social media.

 Instead, he advised pilgrims to complete all financial transactions directly through the official bank accounts of licensed Hajj agencies. 

The HAAB leader said the fair would enable visitors to compare package prices, review the services offered by different agencies and choose their preferred agency without the involvement of middlemen. Pilgrims will also be able to make bookings and sign agreements directly with approved agencies with discount offered by the agencies.

Referring to Saudi Arabia's new Hajj policy, Majumder said several significant changes have been introduced for the 2026 Hajj season, including implementation of the 2025 Hajj Roadmap, mandatory catering services and the withdrawal of the Category D service. 

He warned that these changes could make Hajj more difficult and costly for Bangladeshi pilgrims. "We have discussed these issues with Bangladesh's Ministry of Religious Affairs and request the government to take prompt initiatives," he said.

Responding to a question, Majumder said Saudi authorities have adopted the policy that only financially and mentally capable Muslims should undertake Hajj.

 As a result, the lower-cost Category D service has been discontinued, increasing expenses in the Saudi portion of the pilgrimage by approximately Tk 66,000 due to upgraded service requirements.

He, however, noted that although the total Hajj cost may still appear higher, the Bangladesh government's cost-reduction initiatives have helped offset part of the increase, making the overall expense lower than in previous years.

Farid Majumder also highlighted the dominant role of the private sector in Bangladesh's Hajj operations, stating that nearly 96 percent of Bangladeshi Hajj pilgrims and 100 percent of Umrah pilgrims travel under private management through HAAB member agencies.

He further claimed that Bangladesh has achieved the top position among South Asian countries in Hajj management for the 2026 Hajj season, adding that HAAB is committed to maintaining this standard.

According to the HAAB Secretary General, the Hajj and Umrah Fair 2026 will serve not only the current Hajj season but also as a platform for disseminating information on future developments and policy changes in Hajj management among pilgrims and other stakeholders.