Hajj package starts at Tk505,648 as govt cuts airfare for 2027 pilgrims

The government on Tuesday announced the Hajj packages for 2027, setting the lowest cost under the government scheme at Tk505,648 and reducing airfare by nearly Tk25,000 from last year.

Religious Affairs Minister Kazi Shah Mofazzal Houssain (Kaikobad) unveiled the packages at a press briefing at the Secretariat.

He said airfare for Hajj pilgrims has been fixed at Tk100,300 this year, down Tk24,830 from 2026. He credited Prime Minister Tarique Rahman's personal efforts for securing the lower fare.

The government has introduced two Hajj packages.

Package One will cost Tk615,263. It offers accommodation within 1,000 to 1,400 metres of the Grand Mosque in Makkah and in the central area of Madinah. Pilgrims under this package will stay in Zone 2 tents in Mina and receive Category-3 services. The expected stay in Saudi Arabia will be between 35 and 40 days.

Package Two, the lower-cost option, has been fixed at Tk505,648. Pilgrims will stay in hotels located within two to three kilometres of the Grand Mosque and within 800 metres of the Prophet's Mosque in Madinah. They will stay in Zone 5 tents in Mina and receive the same Category-3 services. Shuttle bus services will be available where required under Saudi regulations.

For pilgrims travelling through private Hajj agencies, the government has set a standard package at Tk513,648.

Under the package, accommodation in Makkah must be within three kilometres of the Grand Mosque and within one kilometre of the Prophet's Mosque in Madinah. No more than six pilgrims can stay in a room. Agencies may introduce up to three additional packages, but they cannot offer services below those included in the government's second package.

The Minister said agencies must form groups before registration begins to meet Saudi requirements on minimum pilgrim quotas. All approved packages must be published on the Hajj portal and the agencies' own websites. They must also include the costs of sacrificial animal arrangements and catering.

The government also announced new facilities for Bangladeshi expatriates planning to perform Hajj. They will be able to complete their medical examinations, vaccinations and visa applications from the countries where they live instead of travelling to Bangladesh first.

Registration for the 2027 Hajj will remain open until September 24. Pilgrims will have to select a package through the e-Hajj system and deposit Tk150,000 for preliminary registration before completing the final payment.

Hajj operations are scheduled to begin on April 8, 2027, while the pilgrimage is expected to take place on May 15.

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