The registration deadline for the 2025 Hajj has ended. Despite reducing the cost of Hajj by more than 1 lakh taka compared to last year and extending the time in stages, there has been no response from the pilgrims. More than half of the quota is still vacant.
Only 44 percent of the full quota of pilgrims have registered for Hajj through government and private management in the three and a half months up to Sunday (December 15).
According to the Hajj portal till 8 pm on Sunday, 62,212 pilgrims have registered out of the quota of 1,27,198. Among them, about 8,000 pilgrims have submitted vouchers to the bank to go for Hajj. In total, 70,000 pilgrims have registered to perform Hajj next year. On the other hand, the Saudi government has permitted 1,27,198 pilgrims from Bangladeshis for Hajj next year. As a result, about 57,000 Hajj quotas are still vacant.
Of the 62,212 pilgrims, 4,759 have been registered under government management while 57,453 have been privately registered. About 8,000 pilgrims have deposited money in the bank. Usually, it takes one working day to deposit money in the bank. Accordingly, those who deposited money on Sunday will have their money deposited on Tuesday. Because Monday is a holiday for Victory Day (December 16).
When asked whether the time would be extended, the Joint Secretary (Hajj Division) of the Ministry of Religious Affairs Dr Md. Manjurul Haque said, “The time has been extended three times this year. Due to the ultimatum from the Saudi government, it is not possible to extend the time anymore.”
He said, “If the money of the pilgrims is not sent to the Saudi government by December 22, tent number 5 allocated for Bangladeshis will not be available. Other countries have started booking tents. Therefore, it has become urgent for those who have registered to send the money to the Saudi government.”
The Ministry of Religious Affairs is concerned that the desired response to Hajj registrations has not been received despite reducing costs. In such a situation, the Ministry of Religious Affairs has written to the Ministry of Civil Aviation and Tourism to reduce airfares to meet the Hajj quota.
Recently, Religious Advisor Dr AFM Khalid Hossain gave a quasi-official document (DO letter) to Civil Aviation and Tourism Advisor AF Hasan Arif to reduce the airfare by another Tk 27,820 to Tk 1,40,000.
In the DO letter, Khalid Hossain said, “If the airfare is reduced, it will be easier for Bangladesh to fulfil its Hajj quota. Bangladesh’s respect for the Saudi government will increase. Biman Bangladesh Airlines will also benefit commercially.”
On October 30, 2025, the government officially announced two packages for Hajj. According to the announced affordable package, the cost has been estimated at 4,79,242 taka. The other package has been estimated at 5,75,680 taka. In these packages, the airfare has been reduced by at least 27,000 taka compared to 2024. However, in the government package, Hajj pilgrims have been asked to take 40,000 taka for food and 750 Saudi riyals for sacrificing animals separately. Last year, food money was included in the package. In coordination with the government package, private agency owners also announced multiple packages. Along with this, they have been demanding a reduction in airfare.
The holy Hajj will be held on June 5 next year, subject to the sighting of the moon.
Source: observerbd
