Hajj costs to fall further next year: Kaikobad

Religious Affairs Minister Kazi Shah Mofazzal Hossain Kaikobad has expressed hope that the cost of performing Hajj will be reduced further next year, while proposing an investigation into the use of excess airfare collected from pilgrims in 2023.

Speaking under Rule 300 in Parliament on Tuesday, the minister said the current airfare for Hajj pilgrims has been fixed at Tk 130,000, compared with Tk 197,797 charged in 2023. “It should be investigated where the additional money went and how it was used,” he said.

The government’s 2027 Hajj Package-1 has been set at Tk 615,263, Tk 75,334 lower than the 2026 cost of Tk 690,597, excluding food. Package-2 has been reduced by Tk 53,233 to Tk 505,648.