Doubts Grow Over Filling Hajj Quota as Final Registration Ends September 24

Writer: Shamsul Islam

There has been little response to the final registration of pilgrims for the 1448 Hijri Hajj. Of the nearly 65,000 pre-registered pilgrims, only a handful have completed final registration. Many are reluctant to pay Tk 350,000 at once to complete the process, raising doubts over whether the Hajj quota can be filled.

As of Thursday, 751 pilgrims under the government arrangement had paid Tk 350,000 each and completed final registration. Under the private arrangement, 1,231 pilgrims had done so. According to the roadmap announced by the Saudi government, pilgrims can complete final registration by paying Tk 350,000 until September 24. The Saudi government will not extend the deadline. Only 20 days remain until the final registration deadline.

In 2026, the number of Hajj pilgrims from Bangladesh fell to 78,500. Of them, 4,565 travelled under the government arrangement and 73,935 under the private arrangement. Several Hajj agency owners said that although airfares had fallen somewhat, the overall cost of Hajj had not declined because accommodation, transportation and other service costs in Saudi Arabia had increased. The country’s current economic situation is also not particularly favourable. They fear that the number of pilgrims from Bangladesh could fall further in 2027, as it has over the past two years.

Pre-registration for the 2027 Hajj began on July 27. According to the Saudi roadmap, final registration under both government and private arrangements will remain open until September 24. The Ministry of Religious Affairs has set the final registration fee at Tk 350,000. The ministry said pre-registered individuals may complete final registration by paying the full amount of the announced Hajj package. Alternatively, they may complete the registration by paying the remaining package amount by December 10.

Abu Yusuf, chairman of Ababil Hajj Group, told Inqilab on Thursday that there had been little response to final registration. He said that although airfares could be reduced, the increased cost of Hajj services in Saudi Arabia was creating uncertainty over whether the quota could be filled. He proposed allowing pilgrims to complete final registration by paying Tk 200,000 instead of Tk 350,000 by September 24, saying this could help fill the quota. He also said that collecting the full Hajj package cost in three instalments would reduce the financial pressure on pilgrims.

Responding to a question, Abu Yusuf said the government must maintain strict oversight to prevent any syndicate involving Hajj tickets.

Religious Affairs Secretary Munsi Alauddin Al Azad told the media that every stage of Hajj management must be completed according to the roadmap set by Saudi Arabia. Therefore, there is no scope to extend the registration deadline. He said those intending to perform Hajj make their intention well in advance and had been waiting for the announcement, so they would complete registration within the stipulated time.

Asked whether the short registration period would pose a major challenge, he said some agencies encourage people to perform Hajj, but registration must be completed within the stipulated time. Asked whether the registration period could be extended, the secretary said, “There is no scope. Saudi Arabia has a roadmap. It specifies when each stage must be completed.”

Mufti Junaid Gulzar, an executive committee member of the Hajj Agencies Association of Bangladesh (HAAB), said the Saudi government introduces changes to Hajj management every year. Costs have increased this year as well due to changes in various areas, which will affect the number of pilgrims. He said Saudi Arabia’s new rules include making catering services mandatory and withdrawing Category D, among other measures. If these decisions are implemented, it will become difficult for Bangladeshi pilgrims to perform Hajj comfortably. He called on the Ministry of Religious Affairs to take swift measures in this regard and urged pre-registered pilgrims to complete final registration by September 24 in the interest of smooth Hajj management.

Subject to moon sighting, Hajj is scheduled to be held on May 15 next year (9 Dhul-Hijjah 1448 AH). A total of 127,198 pilgrims from Bangladesh will be able to perform Hajj. However, experience in recent years shows that despite the Hajj quota remaining unchanged, filling the quota is becoming increasingly difficult.

HAAB President Syed Golam Sarwar and Secretary General Farid Ahmed Majumder told Inqilab that final registration must be completed by September 24, with pilgrims paying Tk 350,000, in line with the Saudi government’s roadmap. They said catering services had been made mandatory under Saudi Arabia’s new rules, while Category D had been withdrawn and several other measures introduced. If these decisions are implemented, it will become difficult and extremely challenging for Bangladeshi pilgrims to perform Hajj comfortably. They said they had discussed the matter with Bangladesh’s Ministry of Religious Affairs and requested the authorities to take swift action.

HAAB leaders said they would observe how many pilgrims complete final registration by September 24. If the quota is not filled as expected, they would subsequently apply for an extension of the deadline.

Dr. Abdullah Al Naser, president of the Hajj Pilgrims and Hajji Welfare Council, told Inqilab on Thursday that the country’s overall economic situation would again affect Hajj travel this year. Considering the overall situation, he said, the number of pilgrims was unlikely to be very high. The number of Hajj pilgrims increases when the country’s economic situation is favourable.

He said the government had managed to reduce airfare for Hajj pilgrims by Tk 24,800 compared with last year, but the cost of accommodation, transportation, muallim services, catering and other services in Saudi Arabia had increased by around Tk 40,000. At the same time, people’s financial capacity in Bangladesh was no longer what it used to be. He therefore expressed concern that the number of pilgrims could fall further this year compared with last year.

He said that under the roadmap of the Saudi government, final registration was scheduled to be completed by September 24. However, pilgrims were not coming forward to pay Tk 350,000 and complete registration. Considering the country’s economic crisis, he called for Prime Minister Tarique Rahman’s urgent intervention to extend the final registration deadline by another month beyond September 24.