Saudi Arabia Returns Tk 100 Million Withheld for Medical Expenses
Saudi Arabia has refunded 3,091,243 SAR (approx. BDT 10.23 crore) to Bangladesh. The amount had been withheld by Saudi authorities citing medical treatment costs for 340 Bangladeshi pilgrims during the 2026 Hajj season. The entire sum was credited back to the ‘Nusuk’ system account of the Bangladesh Hajj Office in Jeddah on October 29.
Religious Affairs Minister Kazi Shah Mofazzal Hossain (Kaikobad) formally announced the recovery during a press briefing at the Secretariat on Sunday, November 1, describing it as a major achievement in protecting pilgrims’ financial interests and conserving national foreign exchange reserves.
According to the minister, the original deduction comprised 2,976,151 SAR withheld against 310 pilgrims traveling under private agencies and 115,092 SAR against 30 government-managed pilgrims.
Following instructions from the Ministry of Religious Affairs, the Bangladesh Hajj Office in Jeddah conducted extensive bilateral engagements with the Saudi Ministry of Hajj and Umrah. Through rigorous verification of documents and diplomatic coordination, officials demonstrated that such deductions lacked historical precedent, successfully securing the full refund.
Minister Mr. Kaikobad further highlighted ongoing efforts to ensure transparency, noting that BDT 4.87 crore from the surplus funds of the 2026 Hajj season has already been reimbursed to 4,341 pilgrims.
The resolution follows concerns raised on September 28 by the Hajj Agencies Association of Bangladesh (HAAB), which urged government intervention after international bank accounts (IBAN) of private agencies were debited by Saudi authorities following the conclusion of Hajj operations.
State Minister for Religious Affairs Mohammad Shamim Quaisar, Ministry Secretary Munshi Alauddin Al Azad, and HAAB Secretary General Farid Ahmed Majumder were also present at the press conference.
