State Minister for Civil Aviation and Tourism M Rashiduzzaman Millat today said that the government has requested the Saudi authorities to reduce the Saudi airport construction levy imposed on airline tickets to further lower travel costs for Bangladeshi Hajj pilgrims, says BBS report.
“Last year, we reduced airfare by Tk 12,000 per ticket. This year, we have further reduced it by Tk 25,000, bringing the airfare down to Tk 130,000,” he said.
He made the remarks while inaugurating the three-day National Hajj and Umrah Fair-2026, organised by the Hajj Agencies Association of Bangladesh (HAAB), at the Bangladesh-China Friendship Conference Centre here.
The state minister said the government is taking a series of initiatives to make Hajj more affordable and hassle-free under the leadership of Prime Minister Tarique Rahman.
Millat said the government has also held extensive discussions with the Saudi Ambassador in Bangladesh to secure special facilities that would reduce accommodation costs for Bangladeshi Hajj pilgrims.
He said the government remains committed to ensuring affordable Hajj packages and warned that anyone found defrauding pilgrims would face the strictest punishment.
Speaking at the programme, Religious Affairs Secretary Munshi Alauddin Al Azad, NDC, said only about five percent of Bangladeshi pilgrims perform Hajj under the government management system, while the remaining 95 percent travel through private Hajj agencies.
He urged Hajj agency owners to refrain from any activities that could tarnish the country’s image or undermine public confidence in Hajj management.
Deputy Head of Mission of the Royal Embassy of Saudi Arabia in Bangladesh Khalid Saeed Al Hadal, HAAB leaders and prospective Hajj pilgrims, among others, attended the inaugural ceremony.