HC issues rule against hajj package cost

A High Court division bench today issued a rule asking why the Hajj package announced by the government this year should not be declared "against the public interest".

The HC division bench comprising Justice KM Kamrul Kader and Justice Mohammad Ali issued the rule.

The court also sought to know why other airlines besides Bangladesh Biman and Saudi Airlines should not be included in the list of airlines for booking tickets for hajj, keeping the affordability of the pilgrims in mind.

The religious affairs secretary, civil aviation and tourism secretary, and the director general of the Islamic Foundation and Hajj Association of Bangladesh (HAB) have been asked to respond to the rule within the next four weeks.

On March 6, a legal notice was sent to the government to review the Hajj package price and set it at Tk 4 lakh by Supreme Court lawyer and chief coordinator of Al-Quran Study Center, Advocate Ashraf Uz Zaman.

The notice which stated that legal action will be taken against the concerned authorities if they don't take necessary steps within a week was also sent to the religious affairs ministry.

Advocate Ashraf Uz-Zaman, the petitioner of the writ, told BSS that they want the concerned party to amend, change and reschedule the Hajj Package-2023, confining it within Tk 4 lakh.

"We have pointed out other issues like including other airlines besides Bangladesh Biman or Saudi Airlines, to ease out the burden of the expenses for the pilgrims," he added.

The government fixed the cost of Hajj in the current year at Tk 6.83 lakh. On the other hand, the minimum cost for Hajj pilgrims under private management (without qurbani) has been set at Tk 6.72 lakh.

With the announced packages, a pilgrim will have to spend around Tk 1.5 lakh extra this year, compared to the previous year's budget.